Employer
responsibilities

The physical safety, security and health and wellbeing of the specialist family violence workforce is essential for supporting sustainability. Organisations must be proactive in preventing and minimising the adverse effects of working in the context of violence and social injustice. 

This means implementing:

• trauma-informed health and wellbeing strategies
• regular supervision with suitably qualified senior leaders and managers
• reflective practice that uses a trauma and violence-informed approach tailored to the context of responding to violence and oppression
• informal debriefing and fostering a workplace culture of hope, resilience, activism and raising ideas to progress change.

(The Code of Practice: Principles and Standards for Specialist Family Violence Services for Victim Survivors, 2020)

Services should have policies and procedures in place to: 

• support practitioner safety in everyday practice
• document and debrief reportable and critical incidents
• address concerns about misconduct, bullying and service quality.

Given the high prevalence of family violence across the community, it is inevitable that the workforce includes people with their own past or current lived experiences of family violence. Enabling sustainability requires dedicated workplace policies that recognise this reality and include confidential support strategies and family violence leave provisions.

There are several initiatives currently underway that seek to support the specialist family violence services to promote and protect the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff.

Family Safety Victoria published an online Family Violence Health, Safety and Wellbeing Guide, with links to Safe and Equal’s Self-assessment Handbook and Tool.