Read the second Annual Report

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, No to Violence, and Domestic Violence Victoria – the statewide peak bodies for integrated family services, specialist family violence services for perpetrators and specialist family violence services for victim survivors – welcome the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor’s second annual report released yesterday.

The peak bodies echo the Monitor’s call for a systemic and coordinated approach to the design and implementation of the family violence reforms. It is our view that now is an opportune time for the Victorian Government to focus on rethinking governance and planning mechanisms, without which the successful implementation of the reforms and a clear vision for future systems are jeopardised.

We agree with the Monitor’s assessment of the design and establishment of the Support and Safety Hubs, and emphasise the importance of learning from the rushed establishment of the first five Hub sites and subsequent challenges, to ensure that victim survivors across Victoria, including children, receive a consistently safe service, focused on addressing family violence risk and safeguarding child well-being. More needs to be done to bring those who use violence into the view of the system in order to be offered interventions that support behaviour change, accountability, and safety.

Interim CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria Sandie de Wolf said today, ‘This report provides us all with a valuable opportunity to reflect on how much has already been achieved and how we use the learnings to continually adapt and improve our system design, policies and practices.’

Deb Tsorbaris, CEO of the Centre for Excellence in Family Welfare, has stated today, ‘There are many positives in this report, but we know that the Hubs need to be better connected with – and funded alongside – early years programs, primary prevention programs, integrated family services, and supporting the voices of victim survivors.’

Jacqui Watt, CEO of No to Violence, says, “We recognise the importance of developing and maintaining robust workforces across government and community agencies to deliver on this reform. We encourage a more nuanced and targeted approach to perpetrator accountability and engagement throughout our efforts, to enable the safety of women and children”.

We congratulate and thank Tim Cartwright for his diligence, capacity to listen, and commitment to prioritising the interests and voices of victim survivors in his role as Victoria’s first Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor.

We also commend the Andrews Government on their commitment to independent oversight of these landmark family violence reforms.

We acknowledge the efforts and investment Family Safety Victoria and other government agencies have made to the reform implementation.

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, No to Violence, and Domestic Violence Victoria look forward to continuing to work with government, departments, victim survivors, and our colleagues to realise the hopes we all share for this critical reform.