MARAM Training
Multi Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) training is available now.
Building cross-sector collaboration to prevent family violence
Susan George is an AOD (alcohol and other drugs) Specialist Family Violence Adviser (SFVA), auspiced by Odyssey House Victoria (OHV), building capacity for family violence assessment and response to all AOD service providers in the western metropolitan catchments. We spoke to Susan about the challenges and opportunities of her role.
Striving towards once-in-a-lifetime reform
Victorian Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams and DVRCV CEO Emily Maguire reflect on the progress towards implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Top Advocate Appointed As Victims Of Crime Commissioner
Fiona McCormack, former CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria, will serve as the new Commissioner from 8 July 2019.
A new statutory authority for preventing family violence in Victoria
As a result of the Prevention of Family Violence Act 2018, a new independent statutory authority, Respect Victoria, was founded to focus on the prevention of family violence in Victoria. We interviewed Respect Victoria CEO Tracey Gaudry and Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly about the possibilities of this new body.
New Victoria Police Family Violence Report
A new Victoria Police Family Violence Report (FVR) will be live across Victoria from 22 July 2019.
Fourth Action Plan Endorsed by Council of Australian Governments
The Council of Australian Governments has endorsed the fourth and final action plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.
Family Violence Reporting Tool Goes Live Across Victoria
Police officers in Victoria have gained access to a new family violence reporting tool, facilitating faster and more accurate incident reporting in the field.
New Victorian Crime Data Shows Spike in Reported Family Incidents
The Crime Statistics Agency found that recorded family incidents increased by 8.6% in the past 12 months, with 82,652 incidents recorded across the state.
Gender Diverse People Exposed to Higher Rates of Sexual Violence
More than half of trans and gender-diverse survey respondents reported experiences of sexual violence or coercion – a rate four times higher than that of the general population.
Country Women’s Experiences of Domestic Violence Captured by New Report
The report has found that rural women experiencing domestic violence are hesitant to seek support and struggle to recognise early signs of abuse.
New Funding to Grow & Strengthen Future Workforce
The Victorian Government has announced further investment in the family violence sector, aimed at helping grow and build the capability of the future response workforce.
Fast tracking into a stronger future
Ensuring an expert, supported and passionate family violence workforce for the future is challenging and not easy to achieve. That’s why DVRCV wholeheartedly welcomed the Victorian Government’s recent announcement to invest further in the family violence sector as part of its Rolling Action Plan.
Keeping Survivors & Yourself Safe Over Holiday Period
As family and sexual violence rates are predicted to peak over the holiday period, we reflect on how response workers can support their wellbeing during this demanding time of year.
Too many women in prisons, scant wisdom in the system
More women than ever are in Victorian prisons. Housing insecurity, tough bail laws and a system women no longer trust are just the start of a systemic failure that Flat Out’s Family Violence Justice Pilot Project is beginning work to fix.
Supporting Survivors of Bushfires & Increased Violence
There is a well-established link between disasters and family violence. Do you know how to best support those from fire-affected regions experiencing abuse?
Statement to Women’s Safety Ministers
DVRCV stands with WESNET (Women’s Services Network) Inc., Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA), Fair Agenda and 68 family violence groups across Australia to request the actioning of five desperately needed changes to improve the safety of many women and children within weeks.
The hidden disaster of the bushfires
The period following a disaster is a complex landscape. People of all genders suffer grief and loss and are often traumatised by their experience.
WESNET Safe Phones Funding Extended
Each month WESNET supplies hundreds of survivors with free, safe mobile phones. With extended government funding, it will continue to deliver this service through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Extra Government Funding to Support Survivors during COVID-19
The Victorian Government has announced a $40.2 million funding package to provide accommodation and support to those experiencing or at risk of family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Self-care and social change: a personal reflection
As someone who has dedicated her life to creating systemic change for women and children, Fiona McCormack reflects on her own personal and professional struggles with self-care.
DVRCV Launches Warning Signs Tip Sheet
Tailored to the COVID-19 context, the tip sheet will help frontline essential workers identify family violence and support those who are unsafe at home at the moment.
Family Courts to Fast-Track Urgent Applications
Victorians experiencing increased family violence risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have their urgent applications heard by a judge within 72 hours.
Merger announcement
Domestic Violence Victoria (DV Vic) and the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV) will merge in 2020-21 to become a new entity.
Redefining family violence legal practice
The impact of the recent COVID-19 isolation restrictions on woman and children experiencing family violence has meant that organisations have had to look at and change their approach to delivering crucial services.
Funding Boost for Legal Support Services
The funding will help Victoria Legal Aid, CLCs and Aboriginal legal services reach and provide vital legal support to more victim survivors of family violence.
New Family Violence Jobs Hub for a Growing Workforce
The Jobs Hub connects professionals with diverse career opportunities in the family violence and PVAW sectors.
Men’s control of decision making
Gender inequality creates the social conditions for violence against women to occur. There are four key expressions of gender inequality that have been found to predict or drive this violence. To prevent violence against women, we must focus our efforts on addressing these drivers.
Condoning violence against women
Gender inequality creates the social conditions for violence against women to occur. There are four key expressions of gender inequality that have been found to predict or drive this violence. To prevent violence against women, we must focus our efforts on addressing these drivers. The condoning of violence against women is one of these drivers.
A message from our CEO, Emily Maguire
The police killing of George Floyd and the resurgence of mainstream media attention on the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and internationally has sharpened our focus on racism, dispossession and oppression in this country.
Funding to Better Equip GPs to Respond to Family Violence
General Practitioners and other medical professionals have a vital role to play in identifying and responding to family violence, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis.
MARAM Resources, Training & Implementation Update
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted MARAM reforms on multiple fronts. We have summarised the key developments that may impact you here.
WISHIN: a safe home for every woman
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in family violence in Victoria.
Survey Captures FV Practitioner Experiences During COVID-19
166 Victorian practitioners supporting women experiencing violence during Victoria’s initial COVID-19 shutdown period responded to the survey. Here’s a summary of the key findings.
Rigid gender roles and stereotypes
Gender inequality creates the social conditions for violence against women to occur. Based on Change the Story, learn more about how rigid gender roles and stereotypes drive and perpetuate violence against women.
Q&A: The ins and outs of DV Vic’s new Code of Practice
An exclusive interview DV Vic’s Senior Practice Development Advisor, Erin Davis, about the redeveloped Code of Practice and the implications of this resource.
The power of advocacy: one survivor’s story
Reclaiming and redefining one’s self after experiencing intimate partner violence is fraught with many challenges. Overcoming the trauma of abuse and the injustices of the legal system are just two of these challenges.
Five New Orange Door Hubs to Open Across Victoria
In light of a recent announcement, DV Vic is calling on government to work with peak bodies to strengthen the impact of the new safety hubs.
Male peer relations and disrespect towards women
Gender inequality creates the social conditions for violence against women to occur. There are four key expressions of gender inequality that have been found to predict or drive this violence. To prevent violence against women, we must focus our efforts on addressing these drivers.
Funding to Strengthen Aboriginal-led Family Violence Responses
The funding aims to provide more Aboriginal families and individuals experiencing and using family violence with culturally-safe support.
Crime Data Captures Record Spike in Family Violence
The CSA reported family incidents increased by 6.7% since last year to a record high of 88,214 incidents. Herein we unpack the reasons why.
Are you safe at home?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in family violence in Victoria.
Reflecting on a year of change
As we publish our annual report for 2019-20, CEO Tania Farha reflects on the past year.
State budget response
DVRCV and Domestic Violence Victoria welcome the Victorian Government’s continued investment into family violence reforms announced in yesterday’s state budget.
Further investment in family violence reforms
The Victorian Government announced a $435 million investment into gender equality and family violence initiatives in yesterday’s state budget.
More perpetrators misusing technology to abuse victims
A new report has found that perpetrators are finding new ways to use technology to abuse victim survivors.
Dedicated family violence court to open in Melbourne’s south east
More Victorians living with family violence can now access expert and dedicated court services with the state’s newest Specialist Family Violence Court up and running in Moorabbin.
Protecting Australia’s gun safety framework
DVRCV has been a proud member of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance since 2018. We have joined nearly 30 other organisations in support of efforts to protect Australia’s strong gun safety framework.
Practitioner profile: Ashleigh Shanahan
We recently spoke with LGBTI Homelessness and Family Violence Project Worker, Ashleigh Shanahan, about what inspires her work.
50,000 Victorians Get The Help They Need At The Orange Door
The Orange Door gives Victorian women and children access to the support and services they need when they are experiencing family violence.