Update on events and issues in Victoria - Domestic Violence Resource Centre Vic

This page provides a guide to what's happening in the sector, and to some of the 'hot topics' of discussion in the field. Last updated May 22, 2008

DVRCV Campaigns

Violence Against Women with Disabilities Project

Women with disabilities experience high levels of abuse and violence. DVRCV's project advocates for improved service provision for women with disabilities. Find out about the experiences of women with disabilities, DVRCV's campaign, the issue, and what services can do....READ MORE

Young People and Violence Prevention

Young people are at higher risk of experiencing abuse or violence - but what are we doing about it?...READ MORE

Change the Family Violence Laws in Victoria

Read more and get involved

Government Policy - Federal

Family Law Reforms

The Howard Government introduced significant changes to family law, outlined in the the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill 2005. These changes were the result of lobbying by fathers' rights groups, and will have a major impact on separating parents. The changes include the introduction of equal shared parental responsibility after separation and compulsary participation in dispute resolution at Family Relationship Centres (from 2007). DVRCV is very concerned about these changes as they have the potential to put victims of domestic violence or child abuse at risk of further violence. ...READ MORE or read our 2007 Discussion Paper 'Behind Closed Doors' on the topic of family dispute resolution and violence.

Government Policy - Victoria

Integrated Family Violence Services System

The Victorian Government has introduced the 'Integrated Family Violence Service System' as part of its strategy to reduce the incidence of family violence. This approach aims to have community services, police, courts and government working together in a more integrated way.

More on the Victorian Government’s Integrated Family Violence Service System can be found on the Department of Human Services Office for Children website at http://www.office-for-children.vic.gov.au/ifv/services

Updates on the New Approach to Family Violence are available on the Office of Women's Policy website - updates page.

DVRCV has commented on the reforms in our newsletter. Our comments have focused on the need to preserve a gendered response, and the loss of community education and the Family Violence Networker positions in the new system. See our Newsletter page for these articles.

The Government's new approach draws on the recommendations from the Statewide Steering Committee to Reduce Family Violence (see below).

The Statewide Steering Committee to Reduce Family Violence (SSCRFV)

The Statewide Steering Committee to Reduce Family Violence (SSCRFV) provides advice to Government on how to improve the responses of police, courts and all relevant service providers to family violence in Victoria. The committee, established within the context of the Women’s Safety Strategy (see below) and the Victoria Police Violence Against Women Strategy, is made up of representatives from non-government and government agencies, and is co-chaired by Assistant Commissioner Leigh Gassner from Victoria Police, and Fiona Sharkie, Director of the Office of Women's Policy.

In its Terms of Reference the committee was also asked to provide advice on appropriate models for an integrated response to family violence, building on work in Australian and overseas jurisdictions. [read more about DVRCV's position on 'integrated responses'] See also the Office of Women's Policy Site - Statewide Steering Committee.

The Committee's February 2005 report to Government, "Reforming the Family Violence System in Victoria" is now on the Office of Women's Policy website.

Social policy action plan

The Victorian government has also set out its social policy action plan. The plan sets out 85 actions the Government will take within fourteen major strategies to address disadvantage in Victoria, including family violence: See 'A Fairer Victoria' on the Department of Premier and Cabinet Website.

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Office of Women's Policy initiatives:

Women's Safety Strategy:

'Women's Safety Strategy: A coordinated approach to reducing violence against women' was released by the Office of Women's Policy in October 2002. A progress report on the strategy was released in 2005. The strategy is part of a whole-of-government approach that recognises the need for a specific strategy to address violence against women. It outlines ten principles to guide the Government's planning and action, and proposes to focus Government efforts in four key areas to reduce the level, and fear, of violence against women in Victoria. A key principle was a move towards an integrated response to family violence.

For information see the Office of Women's Policy website Safety Strategy pages http://www.women.vic.gov.au/

Department of Human Services

Reforms to the Child Protection System

The Victorian Government introduced new legislation for child protection in 2005 (The Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, and the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005). From April 2007 the Children Youth and Families Act (2005) has formally replaced the former Children’s and Young Persons Act (1989).

The Best Interests principles in the new act (s. 10) provide a unifying set of principles that guides all decision making and service delivery. One interesting change is the concept of ‘cumulative harm’ on children who witness family violence, rather than the previous concept of ‘episodic exposure’. There are new principles for how Child Protection will respond to this. Publications on the Best Interests Principles are available online: http://www.office-for-children.vic.gov.au/ecec/library/
publications2/publications2/best_interests

Child Protection will continue to perform risk assessment, court applications, case management and case planning, while supported by a range of services to protect children and young people from harm and to promote their development. A system of secondary services (called Child FIRST) will respond to those matters that were previously notified to Child Protection, but where service provision was required, not investigation and intervention. A major focus is the stability of care arrangements. For more information, including the 2005 White Paper - Protecting Children...the next steps see the Department of Human Services Child Protection pages - Every Child Every Chance.

DVIRC's Early Response to the (2005) White Paper:
Read DVIRC's submission on the white paper (download in Word).

Indigenous Family Violence Strategy

The Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Strategy is an initiative which aims to resource and support an Indigenous-led approach to prevent, reduce and respond to the high levels of family violence in Indigenous communities throughout Victoria. As part of the Indigenous Family Violence Strategy, local Indigenous Family Violence Action Groups have been established across the state.

See the Department of Human Services website - Office for Children - Indigenous Family Violence Strategy for more info.

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Legislative and Policing Reforms: Victoria

Review of Family Violence Laws in Victoria - the Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987.

The Victorian Law Reform Commission has recommended a major overhaul to better protect victims of violence under the Victorian Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 (this is the Act that covers family violence Intervention Orders). This is the first comprehensive review of the Victorian intervention order system in 18 years.

DVRCV welcomes the proposals and is supporting a community campaign to encourage the government to implement them... read more and get involved

Family Violence Courts and Changes to Intervention Orders (April 2005)

The Victorian Government introduced changes to Intervention Orders from 1 April 2005 to increase protection for children exposed to family violence and simplify access to the justice system. The changes are contained in the Magistrates' Court (Family Violence) Act 2004. Two demonstration Family Violence Courts have also been established.

The Family Violence Court will operate as a pilot at the Heidelberg and Ballarat Magistrates' Courts. Features of the courts include:

  • The magistrate can hear other matters at the same time as hearing intervention order cases. These matters include compensation applications, criminal cases and some family law contact and residency matters;
  • The court can ordering a defendant to undergo a counselling program to help stop their violent behaviour;
  • Alternative arrangements can be made for giving evidence, such as video link; and,
  • Children do not have to be present or called as witnesses in family violence court hearings or intervention order proceedings, unless ordered by the court.

For information on these changes, see our E-newsletter March 2005

Defences to Homicide

The Victorian Government has introduced changes to homicide legislation (Oct 2005)....READ MORE

Sexual offences: law and procedure

The Victorian Government introduced new legislation, the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Bill 2005 in November 2005. This legislation implemented the recommendations made by the Victorian Law Reform Commission in its Sexual Offences Final Report. Some of the changes to court proceedings include allowing evidence of children and victims with cognitive impairment to be pre-recorded, given via a closed circuit television and in the presence of a support person. Cross-examination of children and victims with cognitive impairment has been banned at committal hearings.

The Report is available on the Commission's website http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au

Review of police responses to violence against women

In August 2001 the Chief Commissioner of Police, Ms Christine Nixon, announced a review into police responses to violence against women.

In August 2004, the Police Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence was released. This details the roles, responsibilities and processes to be undertaken by police when responding to incidents of family violence. To facilitate implementation of the Code of Practice state-wide, 10 full time Family Violence Advisor positions have been established in various locations. For more information see the Victoria Police Family Violence Unit

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Hot Topics

Integrated Responses to Family Violence

In Victoria, as in other states of Australia and overseas, 'integrated models' of responding to family violence are being explored....READ MORE.

Family Law and Mediation

Read about the changes to family law and DVRCV's concerns

Read DVRCV's tip-sheet on mediation for women who have experienced family violence - also read DVIRC's Discussion Paper (2007) 'Behind Closed Doors'

'The Vine' E-News from DVIRC

See 'The Vine' e-newsletter latest edition and older copies of DVRCV's email newsletter, which provides an update of events, issues and new resources.

 

 

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