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Northern Integrated Family
Violence Services Partnership
For professionals supporting the
safety of victim survivors in Melbourne's
northern metropolitan region

Thirteen new graduates will be employed in 2022, across three major specialist family violence organisations in the northern metropolitan region. The successful organisations are inTouch, Kids First and the Salvation Army.

The NIFVS Team will coordinate the process across the region and link the new graduates into local professional development activities. Graduates will also participate in induction sessions and a community of practice with other graduates across the state.

Family Safety Victoria has funded the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Graduate Program, which had been implemented in rural and regional areas in 2021, and will be rolled out across metropolitan regions in 2022.

Building from Strength: 10-year Industry Plan for family violence prevention and response highlighted the need to invest in pathways to build the pipeline of suitably qualified workers for the specialist family violence, sexual assault and primary prevention sectors.

This Program builds on a graduate program successfully implemented in the Bayside Peninsula Area since 2018.

Find employment opportunities for these positions.

WIRE has introduced a program to support victim survivors searching for employment after experiencing family violence, through the Sustainable and Transformative Employment Pathways (STEP) Program. It is open to those who live in Victoria and are looking for work. Participants get access to workshops to build their confidence and skills to look for work, a job coach who can provides targeted guidance, and will be part of a group of other job seekers looking for work together.

Email STEP@wire.org.au for more information.

(WIRE eNews, 19.11.21)

In an Australian first, Victoria Police has launched a policy for dealing with perpetrators of family violence within its ranks.

The policy aims to clarify the roles, responsibilities and procedures police must follow when responding to family violence involving their colleagues.

The policy includes the establishment of a new model for allocating family violence cases involving police, and a new unit dedicated to investigating the most serious and complex matters.

(ABC News online, 11.11.21)

The Federal Government has introduced a ‘new payment to help women escape violent relationships’. Victorian victim-survivors can now apply for the Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) through UnitingCare Vic Tas. The payment is available for people 18+ who have recently experienced family violence, have a changed living situation and are experiencing financial stress.

Assistance can include up to $1500 in financial assistance such as vouchers for essential items; goods and services such as removalists, bonds or basics for a new home and wrap-around support including casework from UnitingCare.

Victim-survivors are required to connect with a local program partner to determine their eligibility to access the funding, by submitting an expression of interest online.

There will be a two-year trial of the EVP to assess the benefit of the payment, including demands, eligibility criteria, needs of specific cohorts and how it works with related services. 

(Source: UnitingCare Vic Tas website & DV Vic/DVRCV eBulletin, 1.11.21)

Family Safety Victoria has developed an online portal to streamline the application, assessment, approval and acquittal of Family Violence Flexible Support Packages (FVFSPs).

The portal is now open for applicant agencies to submit applications, and provider agencies will use the portal to assess, respond to and report on applications.  Each provider has a specific link to the portal.

Until 31 December 2021, applications will still be accepted using the previous application process or through the portal. From 1 January 2022 all applications will need to be submitted via the portal

A learning portal has been established to help new users learn to navigate the new FSP portal quickly and easily.  Applicant agencies/practitioners need to register to use the FSP portal following the steps outlined in the training in the learning portal.

Applicant agencies/practitioners in the northern metropolitan region can contact the FVFSP providers about accessing the learning portal and attending upcoming information sessions:

North East Melbourne: Anglicare FVFSP Coordinator at flexiblepackages.preston@anglicarevic.org.au or 8470 9999

Hume Moreland: Uniting FVFSP Coordinator at hmfvfsp@vt.uniting.org or 9302 6100.

Find detailed information about FSPs, including eligibility, what packages can buy and service requirements, in the updated program guidelines.

Find more information about the Personal Safety Initiative operational guidelines.

(Uniting and Anglicare emails, 26.10.21)

Following on from the launch of MARAM Guidance for Professionals Working with Adults using Family Violence, Family Safety Victoria has released the following additional supporting resources: 

  • Readiness Checklist (Perpetrator Guidance):  Recommended high-level steps for organisational leaders to align to the MARAM perpetrator guidance, prior to the release of training in 2022. This can be found at the following link  https://www.vic.gov.au/maram-practice-guides-and-resources under ‘Organisational focused resources’.
  • Updated MARAM Responsibilities decision guide (includes perpetrator practice): Guides decision making on assigning roles and responsibilities and core reading attached to the responsibilities. This can be found at the following link  https://www.vic.gov.au/maram-practice-guides-and-resources under ‘Organisational focused resources’.

These resources are intended to support both organisational leaders and practitioners.

(Source: Family Safety Victoria email, 17.9.21)

The NIFVS Partnership hosted a webinar on 14 September 2021 to explore how organisational leaders and practitioners can improve engagement with survivor advocates in order to strengthen practice responses and service planning.

The webinar enabled participants to:

  • Locate their thinking within the Experts by Experience Framework
  • Hear advice from survivor advocates on working collaboratively
  • Explore current practice in engaging survivor advocates in the northern metropolitan region.

You can watch the recorded webinar here and access other related resources.

Presenters
Top: Jade Blakkarly (Juno), Ada Conroy (NIFVS), Felicity Rorke (Good Samaritan Inn), Sarah Johnson (NIFVS)
Bottom: Kayti Franklin (Uniting), Anna Wark (DV Vic), Payal (Noor, inTouch Survivor Advocate), Miska (DV Vic Survivor Advocate)

As a result of the Inquiry into the Family Court, the Federal Government passed legislation in February 2021 that has now brought together the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCC). The new entity is now known as the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFC). From 1 September 2021, the FCFC has become a single point of entry into federal family law jurisdiction.

Find more information about the FCFC.

(Source: DV Vic e-bulletin, 27.9.21)