Early Identification of Family Violence within Universal Services Report

The third of seven topic-based reports by the Family Violence Implementation Monitor examines the early identification of family violence within universal services.

Themes arising from the report:

• Concerted efforts have been made to build the capacity of universal health and education workforces to identify family violence.
• There are areas of planning and modelling that could be strengthened.
• There is variability in access to services after family violence has been identified.
• A clear model for secondary consultations would improve coordination and consistency.
• Ongoing monitoring of reform progress and impact is essential.
• Certain cohorts face additional barriers to having family violence identified by universal services.

Recommendations include:

• Allocate implementation support funding for multiple years and ensure further funding is communicated well in advance.

• Provide sector-specific advice to staff in universal services on referral and secondary consultation options.
• Ensure that prescribed organisations have appropriate trauma-informed policies and support for staff with lived experience.
• Further consider what is required to embed MARAM including through:
  • Additional strategies to incentivise phase 2 workforces to engage in training etc.
  • Access for every prescribed organisation to some form of dedicated support for their organisational alignment with MARAM.

(Source: Family Violence Monitors Reports webpage, May 2022)