The Lunch & Learn: Secondary consultation with The Orange Door is coming up on Tuesday 10 September from 12 – 1 pm.
This session will be delivered by Gail Kilmister, Advanced Family Violence Practice Lead at The Orange Door who will speak to best practice in secondary consultation.
You can register now via this link.
In 2023, NIFVS has published the Victim Survivor Experience Mapping Report, highlighting victim survivor’s experiences of the service system in the northern metropolitan region.
As an outcome of the Report, NIFVS in partnership with VACCA have developed a new resource for practitioners, a tip sheet speaking to Working with Aboriginal community members experiencing family violence.
The advice in this tip sheet has been generously shared by VACCA workers.
You can view and download the PDF version of the Tip Sheet here or download the accessible Word document here.
NMR Groupwork Calendar, Term 3 2024.
Each school term, the Northern Integrated Family Violence Services (NIFVS) partnership produces a calendar of family violence support groups run by organisations in the Northern Metropolitan Region.
Support groups include therapeutic groups for victim survivors, supported playgroups, parenting groups and perpetrator intervention programs, including in-language groups.
You can view and download the Term 3 Groupwork Calendar here.
If you would like to include your group on the calendar or would like further information please contact Valentina, Communications and Program Support Officer at Northern Integrated Family Violence Services at valentina.b@whin.org.au.
The Western Integrated Family Violence Committee (WIFVC) and the Northern Integrated Family Violence Services (NIFVS) partnership have published a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) framework Summary Guide.
This Guide offers an overview of the MARAM framework and the Information Sharing Schemes, as well as a summary of tools and resources accessible online.
You can view and download the PDF version of the MARAM Summary Guide here.
Making the Links is an innovative and collaborative project to link migrant women living in regional Victoria to mainstream family and domestic violence and sexual assault services by building capacity on both sides.
- Making the Links: A Guide to Working with Migrant and Refugee Communities in Primary Prevention and Early Intervention. This best practice guide provides six key principles for the development of prevention activities for multicultural communities as well as early intervention actions on how to best support migrant and refugee women who are at risk of experiencing sexual assault.
Download the Accessible Word Making the Links Best Practice Guide here. - Making the Links Podcast Series. The Making the Links Podcast Series is about sharing experiences and perspectives on how regionally based migrant and refugee communities can respond to, find support for and prevent family violence.
Listen to the podcast here.
The Koori Caucus held an extra special meeting on 30 April. This was to re-confirm the current governance positions and nominate and vote for a new Deputy Male Co-Chair, with Uncle Ron Brigg’s resignation from a governance role. The re-confirmed roles are:
- Male Co-Chair – Darren Lovett
- Female Co-Chair – Sarah Joyce
- Male Deputy Co-Chair –Still vacant
- Female Deputy Co-Chair – Kellyanne Andy
A deputy male Co-Chair was nominated and agreed upon at the meeting, but unfortunately due to their high workload, they cannot accept the offer.
Please re-consider if you would like to nominate for the role and the group will utilise the 20 August meeting to undertake the voting process. Feel free to contact a Chair/Deputy, or the Coordinator, to get an idea of what is involved. We try and share the workload, and there is no administrative part of the role. The Coordinator covers all the administration requirements.
The group’s coordinator is Lynda Whitaker: Lynda.Whitaker@familysafety.vic.gov.au | 0418 900 718.
The fifth Lunch & Learn session is coming up!
On Wednesday 24 July from 12 – 1 pm, Annabel, Disability Family Violence Practice Development Advisor from Berry Street will speak to Disability inclusive practice.
Registrations close on Monday 22 July EOD.
Register now via this link.
Starting from July 2024, NIFVS will be delivering MARAM Collaborative Practice training in a full-day model. The next available date will be Tuesday 16 July 2024.
Book a spot now on Eventbrite.
What is MARAM Collaborative Practice?
MARAM Collaborative Practice is a foundational course in the suite of MARAM trainings. It is an important opportunity to build cross-sector relationships, learn from other professionals and network.
What will you learn?
- Secondary consultation to collaboratively support victim survivors
- Information Sharing Schemes – FVISS and CISS and how to use them
- Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan
- Use collaborative practice to keep people using violence accountable
You can see upcoming Collaborative Practice training dates here.
The recording of the Building Bridges Forum ‘Expert’ Panel discussion on Service Mapping with Adults Using Violence Services is now available on Youtube via this link.
The Panel was moderated by Pauline Wright, Senior Manager of the Northern Specialist Family Violence Service at Berry Street. Panel members featured:
- Manjula Karunathilake (she/her), Operational Team Leader and Coordinator Motivation for Change Program at inTouch.
- Dr Paula Fernandez Arias (she/her), General Manager Queerspace at Drummond Street Services.
- Julie Gasparini (she/her), Acting Senior Sergeant at Victoria Police.
- Gail Kilmister (she/her), Advanced Family Violence Practice Lead at The North East Orange Door.
- Melisa Monea (she/her), Senior Practitioner of the Men’s Behaviour Change Program at DPV Health.
- Lizette Twisleton (she/her), Head of Engagement at No to Violence.
If you have missed the Building Bridges Forum panel or if you would like to watch it again, you can simply access it here.
On behalf of the NIFVS Team, thank you to all participating to the Building Bridges Forum on Wednesday 5 June.
With over a hundred attending the morning ‘expert’ panel and many staying for the afternoon workshops, we are very pleased to have seen a high-level interest and engagement from all-level sector workforces in the Northern Metro Region.
First of many more to come, the Building Bridges Forum affirms itself to be a valuable opportunity for practitioners in the North to unpack challenges and improve understanding of the family violence response service system.
For those who attended, we encourage you to complete this 5-minute survey to inform future NIFVS events.
Thank you again and we hope to see you at future events!
