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MARAM and information sharing

1 Family violence reform overviewThe Victorian Government is developing the second Family Violence Reform Rolling Action Plan 2020 – 2023 (RAP2) as part of its commitment in the 10-year plan: ‘Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s plan for change’. RAP2 will be launched at the end of 2020 as the plan for the next phase of the long-term reform of Victoria’s family violence system.   

Over the period of the first RAP (2017 – 2020) we have delivered key parts of the reform and we are beginning to make a difference to the lives of victim survivors. For example, the first specialist family violence courts are up and running, investment in housing and support pathways is enabling us to help more families, quicker, with better and more stable housing options. More than 1,480 Victorian schools have signed on to the whole school approach to Respectful Relationships to create a culture of gender equality and respect and change the story of family violence for future generations

While more than two thirds of the Family Violence Royal Commission recommendations have now been implemented, we are nearly four years into a 10-year plan to rebuild the family violence system. Through RAP2 we will continue to deliver the key parts of the reform such as the continued roll out of The Orange Door, building a specialist family violence workforce and providing training in risk assessment (MARAM) and information sharing. We will have an increased focus on perpetrators and prevention which will embed the reforms to ensure the family violence system is sustainable and enduring. 

We will continue to incorporate what we have learnt so far, and from coronavirus (COVID-19), into the reform, to ensure it is responsive and adaptive. As the reform evolves from implementing the Royal Commission recommendations we will tell the community how we are going by measuring our progress through reporting against the Family Violence Outcomes Framework (FVOF).

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Our RAP2 priorities are 10 themes and projects that we will prioritise for the next three years to ensure we remain on course to deliver long-term reform.  

Underpinning the 10 priorities are these 3 principles which inform our approach to all our activity.

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Consultation content

MARAM and information sharingMARAM is a set of tools to assess and manage risk. The acronym stands for multi-agency risk assessment and management. This package of information highlights what government has done so far, and what it intends to do over the coming three years, to ensure that improved risk assessment and management and information sharing is embedded across the service system.

Priority area overview: summarises what government is doing and shows how MARAM and information sharing activities support the achievement of FVOF outcomes as we continue to implement Royal Commission recommendations

Achievements since 2016: showcases key achievements during RAP1

Rolling action plan 2020 – 2023: sets out the activities government proposes to deliver for this priority over the next three years

Coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts: reflects on how coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted MARAM implementation

Reform principles: shows how the three reform principles have informed our design of the MARAM framework.

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2 Priority area overview

Reform IntentThe Royal Commission into Family Violence identified that organisations working with victim survivors and perpetrators were failing to share information and assess risk effectively. This was compromising the safety of victim survivors and their children.

The multi-agency risk assessment and management framework (MARAM) and two new statutory information sharing schemes provide for the consistent assessment of family violence risk. These initiatives share responsibility to assess and manage risk across the service system and establish a consistent approach for those most likely to come into contact with people experiencing family violence and those who perpetrate it.

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The Family Violence Outcomes Framework (FVOF)The FVOF articulates the government’s vision to end family violence.

The four FVOF domains reflect the long-term outcomes sought through the collective efforts of the reform.

The FVOF represent the key priorities in preventing and responding to family violence and clarifying what constitutes success.

Activities in this priority area will likely have the greatest impact in achieving outcomes against the following highlighted FVOF domains:

Royal Commission into Family Violence (RCFV)With more than two-thirds of the Family Violence Royal Commission recommendations now implemented, delivery of activities under this priority over the next three years will continue to support recommendation implementation. Updates will continue to be provided via the vic.gov.au website.

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3 Achievements since 2016

SystemWe have developed new risk assessment and management principles and system architecture:

The new Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) has been developed

Amendment of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 has enabled organisations to be prescribed to align with the MARAM framework and participate in the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS)

New resources, tools and practice guidance have been developed for organisations to help them embed MARAM in their operations.

WorkforceWe are expanding the workforces covered by MARAM and information sharing and uplifting their professional competency:

Approximately 37,500 professionals across 850 organisations and services that come into frequent contact with people affected by family violence have been prescribed under MARAM, the FVISS and the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS)

17,000 workers have been trained in MARAM, FVISS and CISS across all platforms (as at May 2020)

An accredited Vocational Education and Training (VET) unit of competency in identifying and responding to family violence has been developed and commenced delivery in July 2020, targeting workers in universal services to be prescribed under phase 2 of the reforms. Phase 2 will include a further 7,500 organisations and services and an additional 370,000 workers.

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EmbeddingWe are embedding MARAM and information sharing across the system:

Change management positions have been funded in the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice and Community Services, Department of Education and Court Services Victoria to support the embedding of MARAM in relevant sectors. A range of peak bodies and other entities have received funding to support this through the MARAMIS Sector Grants program

Victoria Police L17 family violence incident forms have been updated with additional questions relating to risk for children and additional recognised forms of family violence

MARAM screening and risk assessment questions have been embedded into hospitals and health services data systems, noting hospitals are yet to be formally prescribed

The Central Information Point (CIP) brings together information on perpetrators from Victoria Police, Court Services Victoria, Corrections Victoria and Child Protection. This information is provided in a single report to professionals, supporting informed risk assessment and management.

ReviewWe are evaluating as we go and building an evidence base:

The first MARAM annual report (2018 – 2019) on implementation of the MARAM Framework was tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence on 20 February 2020

The legislated two-year review of the FVISS has been completed. The MARAM process evaluation is to be completed in June 2020.

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4 Rolling action plan 2020 – 2023

Proposed activities

NB: Timeline milestones have been included where applicable; text in panels indicates an ongoing and/or non date specific activity.

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5 Coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts

Service delivery adaptation, learnings and innovations during coronavirus (COVID-19)The shift away from face-to-face contact may have impacted the ability of services to conduct risk assessments. Commencement of Phase 2 of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) and information sharing reforms has been deferred until 2021, with the commencement date to be decided. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has created the impetus to shift MARAM training to an online delivery model, a first for specialist family violence practice in Victoria.

NB: This is an interim summary of the impacts, adaptations and innovations which have arisen as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). These will continue to be monitored and considered as the final RAP2 is developed.  

Service delivery impact

Movement restrictions have created the critical risk that victim survivors are unable to seek help while perpetrators have greater opportunity to use family violence. These risks are being countered by engagement of broader workforces and strong messaging that family violence services remain open.

New coronavirus (COVID-19) specific risk questions have been built into online tools for practitioners and have been generalised for ongoing use in other disasters.

Access to perpetrator information to inform risk assessment and management is increasingly critical during coronavirus (COVID-19) and requests under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme are increasing across the system.

MARAM reform implementation

Face-to-face MARAM training was postponed in early March, shifting to online training in June 2020.

Continuing MARAM alignment may be challenging for services while they are focusing on the coronavirus (COVID-19) response and the shift to working remotely.

Preparation for Phase 2 of the reforms may have been impacted by the prioritisation of coronavirus (COVID-19) responses.

Workforces on the front line of the coronavirus (COVID-19) response are being engaged with targeted material on recognising and responding to family violence. This provides a strong foundation to build towards Phase 2 implementation and beyond.

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6 Reform principlesThe principles that underpin the reform have informed our design of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) and information sharing framework.

Lived Experience The Victim Survivors Advisory Council was consulted during development of MARAM Practice

Guides.

Victim survivor self-assessment of risk is the first consideration in the MARAM structured professional judgement model.

Intersectionality MARAM includes intersectional analysis as one of four key components of structured

professional judgement.

Guidance on reflective practice and unconscious bias is included in the MARAM Foundation Knowledge Guide. For example, for LGBTIQ communities this includes ‘Stereotyping people from LGBTIQ communities, including by mischaracterising their experiences based on heteronormative assumptions, or not recognising forms of family violence in LGBTIQ communities and relationships due to the dominant recognition of heterosexual intimate partner violence’.

The Intersectionality Capacity Building Project is working to develop specific tools for ensuring an intersectional lens in all family violence practice, building on MARAM Practice Guides.

Aboriginal Self-Determination MARAM recognises broader Aboriginal definitions of family violence, including community

violence, and the particular risks and barriers faced by Aboriginal people experiencing violence, including children.

MARAM assessment tools include specific questions for people who identify as Aboriginal which are intended to improve the quality of risk assessment and safety planning for Aboriginal people.

Principle 7 of the MARAM affirms the criticality of cultural safety in all forms of service delivery.

MARAM Practice Guides include specific guidance on risk management for Aboriginal people, including asking whether people wish to be referred to an Aboriginal-specific service.

The Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) Ministerial Guidelines include specific guidance on sharing information about Aboriginal people.

MARAM/FVISS implementation for Aboriginal services and communities is driven by the Dhelk Dja Aboriginal Family Violence Agreement.

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