FREE FROM VIOLENCE Victoria's strategy to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women - Victorian Government
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FREE FROM
VIOLENCE
Victoria’s strategy
to prevent family
violence and all
forms of violence
against women
First action plan
2018–2021
Acknowledgements The Victorian Government would like to thank the Ministerial Taskforce on the Prevention of Family Violence and other forms of Violence Against Women and its four working groups for advice and direction in the development of this First action plan 2018–2021 to support delivery of Free from violence: Victoria’s strategy to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women. The taskforce was assembled as an expert reference group for the delivery of Free from violence and comprises victim survivors and leading specialists and experts in primary prevention, violence against women and family violence. The First action plan was developed in consultation with other advisory bodies, including the Indigenous Family Violence Partnership Forum Working Group and the Diverse Communities and Intersectionality Working Group, as well as key individual experts in the prevention of family violence and violence against women sector. The Victorian Government would like to thank everyone who contributed to the discussions and consultations to identify, prioritise and develop the actions outlined in this plan. Aboriginal acknowledgement The Victorian Government proudly acknowledges Victorian Aboriginal people as the First Peoples, Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely. We acknowledge and respect that Aboriginal communities are steeped in traditions and customs built on an incredibly disciplined social and cultural order. This social and cultural order has sustained up to 50,000 years of existence. We acknowledge the ongoing leadership role of the Aboriginal community in addressing and preventing family violence, and join with our First Peoples to eliminate family violence from all communities. Family violence services and support If you have experienced violence or sexual assault and require immediate or ongoing assistance, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) to talk to a counsellor from the National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence hotline. For confidential support and information, contact Safe Steps’ 24/7 family violence response line on 1800 015 188. If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the police in your state or territory, or call 000 for emergency assistance.
MINISTER’S FOREWORD
Family violence and all other forms of violence The Free from Violence: Victoria’s strategy
against women affects everyone – not just to prevent family violence and all forms of
victim survivors, but their families, their violence against women – First action plan
communities and society as a whole. 2018–2021 puts this strategy into practice,
outlining a series of short- and long-term
The Victorian Government’s vision is to create
initiatives to build the infrastructure and
a Victoria free from violence, where Victorians
systems to prevent family violence. A key
experience equality and respect in all of their
part of this action plan is the recognition that
relationships and are empowered to speak
family violence – the most common form of
out against violence knowing they will be
violence against women – is closely linked
supported.
to gender inequality. The initiatives in this
In March 2016, the Royal Commission into action plan will therefore focus on working
Family Violence in Victoria handed down with individuals and communities to support
its findings on the scale and impact of sustained, positive change in gender relations.
this critical statewide issue, making 227
The Victorian Government is committed to
recommendations in total. Every one of these
building knowledge around preventing family
recommendations was accepted by the
violence, fostering innovation in the design
Victorian Government, and our 10-year plan,
and delivery of prevention programs and
Ending family violence: Victoria’s plan for
scaling up projects that are already delivering
change sets out our approach to delivering
real benefit to Victorian communities.
on these outcomes.
Our initiatives and programs will reach all
Family violence is preventable, and we
Victorians in the places they live, work, learn
must work together to change the attitudes,
and play.
behaviours and social norms that drive family
violence and all forms of violence against Ending violence is a long-term endeavour
women. requiring enduring focus and effort. While we
still have a long way to go to realise our goal
In May 2017, we released our first statewide
of achieving a Victoria free from violence, we
primary prevention strategy, Free from
are confident that the initiatives in this plan
Violence: Victoria’s strategy to prevent family
will set a solid foundation that we can build on
violence and all forms of violence against
in our mission to end family violence once and
women. This strategy focuses on changing
for all.
the social norms, structures and practices
that condone family violence and all forms
of violence against women.
The Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP
Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence
Minister for Women
1
OUR VISION:
A VICTORIA
FREE FROM
FAMILY VIOLENCE
Violence against
Free from violence: Victoria’s strategy to
women is one of the
prevent family violence and all forms of most widespread
violence against women (Free from violence)
was launched in May 2017. It sets out the violations of
Victorian Government’s ambitious plan to
achieve our long-term vision – a Victoria free human rights in the
from violence and where all Victorians:
State of Victoria,
…… experience equality and respect in all of
their relationships, particularly within their however, violence
families and with intimate partners
…… are empowered and respected at home
against women is
and everywhere preventable.
…… are supported in their relationships to
reach their full potential.
In this Victoria, communities and
organisations – including workplaces, schools,
sporting clubs, faith communities, public
spaces and places of care such as nursing
homes and assisted living facilities – will foster
equality, inclusion and respect.
Our systems, structures and institutions This document outlines the Victorian
will ensure accountability for violence and Government’s First action plan as a part of
discrimination, and address social inequalities a three-staged approach to achieving these
that lead to these injustices. All Victorians ends, and in implementing Free from violence.
will understand that family violence and all
This is also an integral element of the
forms of violence against women are abuses
government’s 10-year plan, Ending family
of power and control, driven by gender
violence: Victoria’s plan for change.
inequality and exacerbated by other forms
of discrimination. Victorians will have the
knowledge and skills to recognise and speak
out against controlling behaviours, victim-
blaming, sexism and justifications for violence,
with the support of our political leaders, public Delivery of Free from violence
institutions, employers, the media and peers. responds to recommendation 187 of
Everyone will be active in challenging these the Royal Commission into Family
inequalities and in creating a better, more Violence.
equal society for all.
3
4 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLAN
THE FIRST ACTION
PLAN OF FREE
FROM VIOLENCE
The First action plan of Free from violence DELIVERING ON PHASE ONE OF
(the First action plan) outlines how the FREE FROM VIOLENCE
Victorian Government will progress phase
one of Free from violence over the next Free from violence identifies three phases of
three years. activity. This first phase of implementation
in Free from violence focuses on building the
The level of investment and the breadth and infrastructure, systems and support for a
depth of prevention action in this plan is a much larger primary prevention platform in
game changer for Victoria, and builds on Victoria, which is the focus of this action plan.
the long-term advocacy and innovation of
the family violence support and prevention The Victorian Government will take immediate
sectors and the critical leadership of victim action to establish the key structures needed
survivors. to support what is an unprecedented
investment in the prevention of family
This action plan will make significant violence. We will continue to build knowledge
headway in challenging the long-held and where there are gaps; foster innovation in the
false notion that violence is inevitable. It will design and delivery of prevention programs
provide an opportunity for the entire Victorian and policies; and ensure that gains are
community to work together and take action maximised by scaling up and expanding
to create a Victoria free from violence. proven and promising projects. In doing
so we will ensure that our investment is
strategic, learning is shared and progress is
accelerated. Short- and longer-term gains will
be made for all Victorians as we work toward
the ultimate goal of a Victoria free from
violence.
PHASE ONE:
BUILDING ON
WHAT WORKS AND
SCALING UP
PHASE TWO:
STRENGTHENING
WHOLE-OF-
COMMUNITY
EFFORTS AND
ACTIONS
PHASE THREE:
MAINTAINING
EFFORTS AND
GETTING
RESULTS
5
The following five priority areas in this
action plan have been mapped against the
Outcomes Framework:
1. Build prevention structures and systems
2. Research and evaluate
3. Innovate and inform
4. Scale up and build on what we know works
5. Engage and communicate with the
community
An immediate activity of this action plan is
to expand the existing measures, indicators
and outcomes of the framework and develop
short- and medium-term measures.
We will report
HOW WE WILL MEASURE PROGRESS A monitoring, evaluation and reporting
framework based on the Outcomes
We will monitor Framework will be developed to provide
clear and transparent information about
All actions in this plan are underpinned by the progress. All actions will be measured against
Family Violence Outcomes Framework. This the framework, providing a clear overview of
framework ensures we are accountable and implementation progress.
stay on the right track to achieving
these goals. A public-facing annual report will detail
progress against Free from violence and
The Outcomes Framework measures: outline future priorities.
…… vision (what we are working towards) The annual report will include status updates
…… domains (cultural, attitudinal, behavioural for each action, a snapshot of emerging
and structural change) evaluation findings and any new actions to be
included in the First action plan.
…… outcomes (the changes we are working
towards) We will review
…… indicators (how we know whether we are The action plan will be refreshed every three
progressing toward the outcomes). years, with the second action plan due for
release in 2021. A formal evaluation of the
Free from violence strategy’s progress will
be undertaken after five years, providing a
deep review of individual actions and overall
progress.
6 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLAN
We will be accountable …… deliver the second stage of a major Family
Violence Behaviour Change campaign
A number of governance structures are in including a specific focus on preventing
place to inform, monitor and coordinate family violence for Aboriginal people,
whole-of-government reform efforts in family people from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans
violence prevention. The Ministerial Taskforce and intersex (LGBTI) communities, and
on the Prevention of Family Violence and older people
other forms of Violence Against Women is
the key advisory body for Free from violence. …… test a tailored approach to prevention for
The taskforce will continue to play a key role culturally diverse communities
in the implementation of the Strategy and
…… support the expansion of a skilled, capable,
we will continue to engage other key experts
supported and diverse prevention workforce
including victim survivors, Aboriginal people
and communities and diverse communities. …… trial new and innovative approaches
to preventing violence, including in key
We will take immediate action to: settings such as the media and sporting
clubs and associations
…… establish a Family Violence Prevention
Agency to embed, coordinate and drive …… support Aboriginal communities across
primary prevention of family violence Victoria to take the lead in innovating and
across Victoria trialling new approaches to prevention
…… build knowledge on what works to prevent …… undertake research and support
family violence for communities affected evaluation to build knowledge and inform
by multiple forms of disadvantage and future practice.
discrimination
…… scale up successful and promising
prevention activities in metropolitan,
regional and rural areas of Victoria,
including tertiary education, workplaces
and local government
7
FAMILY VIOLENCE OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK
(extract from Free from violence: Victoria’s strategy to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women)
All Victorians experience respectful relationships underpinned by human rights and gender equality –
healthy relationship behaviours are celebrated and promoted.
Victorians do not tolerate family violence – family violence reporting rates reflect increased confidence
FAMILY VIOLENCE in the system and intolerance of family violence, and eventually reflect sustained effort in prevention.
AND GENDER Victorians hold beliefs and attitudes that reject gender inequality and family violence – people
INEQUALITY ARE recognise and reject all forms of family violence and gender inequality, and know how to challenge it
NOT TOLERATED
when they see it. Individuals and systems do not minimise or deny family violence or blame victims,
and stigma and discrimination are addressed.
Women and men, and girls and boys, are equal – gender inequalities where people live, work, learn
and play are diminished.
PREVENTION FRAMEWORK
VISION OUTCOME
A Victoria free from violence 1. Victorians hold attitudes and beliefs that reject gender inequality and
DOMAIN family violence – Victorians understand the causes and forms of family
violence, who is affected by violence, and the impact on victims
Violence is prevented from happening
2. Victorians actively challenge attitudes and behaviours that enable
violence – Victorians discuss and condemn violence through challenging
rigid gender roles, gender inequality, sexism and discrimination, to break
the cycle of violence
OUTCOME 1 OUTCOME 2
OUTCOME OUTCOME
Victorians hold attitudes and beliefs Victorians actively challenge attitudes
that reject gender inequality and family and behaviours that enable violence
violence – Victorians understand the – Victorians discuss and condemn
causes and forms of violence, who is violence through challenging rigid gender
affected by violence, and the impact roles, gender inequality, sexism and
on victims discrimination, to break the cycle
of violence
Indicators
…… Increased awareness of what constitutes
Indicators
violence …… Decrease in sexist and discriminatory
attitudes and behaviours
…… Increased recognition of the significant
impact of violence on victim survivors …… Increase in organisations and
institutions with systems to support
…… Increased awareness and
people who challenge sexism and
understanding of the extent and impact
discrimination
of gender inequality **
…… Reduced reports of everyday
…… Increased culture of challenging gender
stereotypes and sexism **
inequalities, across all settings and
across all life stages ** …… Increase in bystanders feeling supported
to challenge sexism and discrimination
…… Decrease in attitudes that justify, excuse,
minimise, hide or shift blame for violence …… Increase in positive bystander behaviour
in the face of sexism and discrimination
…… Increased visible rejection of violence
by public and community leaders and …… Increased confidence among men and
in media boys to challenge their peer group
when faced with disrespectful or hostile
attitudes towards women
8 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLAN3. Victorian homes, organisations and communities are safe and inclusive –
the prevalence of violence is significantly reduced for all Victorians equally,
and people live free of fear
4. All Victorians live and practise confident and respectful relationships –
Victorians are equipped with the knowledge and skills that inform and
shape healthy, safe, equal and respectful relationships
OUTCOME 3 OUTCOME 4
OUTCOME OUTCOME
Victorian homes, organisations and All Victorians live and practise confident
communities are safe and inclusive – and respectful relationships – Victorians
the prevalence of violence is significantly are equipped with the knowledge and skills
reduced for all Victorians equally, and that inform and shape healthy, safe, equal
people live free of fear and respectful relationships
Indicators Indicators
…… Increased feelings of safety for people …… Increased understanding of what
where they live, work, learn and play constitutes healthy, supportive and
safe relationships
…… Increase in people feeling able, safe and
willing to report violence …… Reduced exposure of young people
to violence
…… Increase in the number of people who
feel safe reporting discrimination and …… Decrease in prevalence of reported
bullying ** sexism, sexual harassment and
gendered bullying **
…… Reduction in people subject to family
violence …… Decrease in acceptance of bullying or
controlling behaviour
…… Reduction in women subject to violence
…… Increased competence in interpersonal
…… Reduction in the over-representation
conflict resolution
from particular groups experiencing
violence …… Reduction in experiences of discrimination
…… Increased confidence in the systems
and structures dedicated to preventing
violence
…… Increased number of organisations and
institutions who model and promote **Safe and strong: A Victorian gender equality strategy indicator
inclusive behaviour
910 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLAN
LINKAGES TO SAFE
AND STRONG:
VICTORIA’S GENDER
EQUALITY STRATEGY
Gender equality is a precondition for the This action plan builds on the efforts of Safe
prevention of violence against women, with and strong and focuses on the drivers of the
women representing the vast majority of most extreme form of gender inequality –
family violence victims. In 2016 the Victorian violence against women.
Government released Safe and strong: A
Simultaneous implementation of Safe and
Victorian gender equality strategy. Safe
strong and Free from violence will accelerate
and strong seeks to ensure that Victoria is
progress toward the visions of both strategies:
a place where everyone is equally valued in
all Victorians living in a society free from
all aspects of life. It sets out a framework for
violence; having access to equal power,
enduring and sustained action over time to
resources and opportunities; and being
end gender inequality in Victoria, including:
treated with dignity, respect and fairness.
…… evidence-based reforms led by the
Victorian Government
…… action with key partners across six
settings: education and training; work
and economic security; health, safety and
wellbeing; leadership and representation;
sport and recreation; and media, arts and
culture.
1112 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLAN
BUILDING ON
EXISTING EFFORTS
The Victorian Government has committed …… Innovative prevention programs led
to addressing family violence as a whole-of- by Aboriginal community-controlled
government priority and is reaching out to organisations for Aboriginal women
a broad audience across the state. Ending including the Sisters Day Out and Dilly
family violence: Victoria’s plan for change Bag programs and Young Luv workshops
was released in November 2016 and sets led by the Aboriginal Family Violence
out a long-term plan toward a future where Prevention and Legal Service. For many
Victorians are safe, thriving and living free Aboriginal women, Sisters Day Out is the
from family violence. first time they recognised and labelled
their experiences as family violence. Many
Ending family violence was followed by
women who took part in these programs
the Family violence rolling action plan
reported that hearing about family
2017–2020 in May 2017, accompanied by an
violence in a safe setting surrounded by
unprecedented $1.9 billion commitment in the
family and community members helped
2017–2018 State Budget. This world-leading
them confront the trauma and impact of
investment included $50.8 million over four
family violence on their lives.
years for prevention activities.
…… Funding from the Multicultural Capacity
The investment in prevention, early
Building and Participation grants program
intervention and response is being
to local service providers and communities
implemented across government portfolios,
to deliver programs aimed at preventing
including justice, health, social services and
and responding to family violence in
education. The whole Victorian Government
culturally, linguistically and religiously
is working together under a single policy
diverse communities. This investment
framework to address family violence.
recognises that family violence intersects
Successes to date include: with other forms of discrimination and
requires a specialist response.
…… Respectful Relationships aims to improve
student and staff knowledge of family …… The rollout of a statewide mass behaviour
violence, equality, inclusion and respectful change communications campaign,
relationships, and positively influence focused on raising awareness of the drivers
attitudes to promote gender equality of family violence and all forms of violence
among young Victorians. Respectful against women. Since the launch of the
Relationships education is now part of campaign in December 2016, the television
the Victorian curriculum and is being commercials have been viewed by over
taught in classrooms. In addition, schools 1.5 million Victorians and close to 7,700
are taking a whole-of-school approach visitors per month have viewed the family
to embedding Respectful Relationships violence website.
in their school culture. In accordance with
…… The 2017 Victoria Against Violence
the Royal Commission’s recommendation,
campaign was viewed over 5.4 million
all government schools – over 1,500 and
times on social media.
covering over 600,000 students – will have
adopted the whole-of-school approach …… In 2017, evaluations indicate that
by 2021. Catholic and independent schools 62 per cent of respondents now possess
can also choose to adopt the whole- the knowledge to recognise the drivers
of-school approach. As of December and factors that lead to and constitute
2017, 1,000 government, Catholic and family violence.
independent schools have signed up
to the whole-of-school approach.
13…… The Victorian Government is also working
closely with the Commonwealth and other
state and territory governments to address
family violence under the 12-year National
plan to reduce violence against women
and their children 2010–2022. Work is being
coordinated at the national level to ensure
that women and their children are able to
live free from violence in safe communities.
There are also many programs and initiatives
being led by the prevention of family violence
and violence against women sector in
Victoria. The prevention sector in Victoria
has been instrumental in their innovation
and advocacy to eliminate family violence
and all forms of violence against women and
their children. This action plan builds on their
long-term work. We will continue to work in
partnership with the prevention sector to
design and deliver prevention initiatives.
ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITIES LEADING THE WAY
Free from violence recognises the strength of
Aboriginal people and communities in leading Aboriginal communities and organisations
the way to prevent family violence against all in Victoria have consistently led the way in
Aboriginal people. the development of strategic priorities and
Colonisation has had a profound impact actions to prevent family violence, advocating
on Aboriginal people and continues to have that strengthening connection to culture
significant repercussions. Multiple and is key to preventing violence. Aboriginal
intersecting complexities such as racism, community leadership is demonstrated
socio-economic disadvantage and systemic through both strong, whole-of-community
discrimination mean that Aboriginal people, engagement initiatives that bring together
especially Aboriginal women and children, women, men, children and Elders to
experience higher levels of family violence collectively break the cycles of violence,
than non-Aboriginal people. The definition as well as targeted programs that build
of family violence for Aboriginal people is resilience and strength through men’s and
broader than that for non-Aboriginal people women’s business and amplify Aboriginal
and includes ‘a wide range of physical, women’s voices, agency and leadership.
emotional, sexual, social, spiritual, cultural, Victorian Aboriginal communities are
psychological and economic abuses that designing and delivering a range of
occur within families, intimate relationships, prevention programs aimed at strengthening
extended families, kinship networks and the factors that protect against family
communities’. The Free from violence strategy violence. Initiatives include:
acknowledges that family violence is not a
part of Aboriginal culture and that violence is …… respectful relationship programs focused
often perpetrated against Aboriginal people on young Aboriginal people
by non-Aboriginal people. …… targeted and local campaigns to build
strong families and communities
…… reducing barriers to discussing and
disclosing violence and seeking support
…… initiatives to strengthen the connection of
Aboriginal children, young people, women
and men to community and culture
…… self-determination models in individual
and institutional contexts.
14 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLANCapacity development is a key foundational
activity for all organisations and communities
undertaking prevention activity under the
Free from violence strategy, including in
design, monitoring and evaluation. Funding
for prevention activities in this context will
include a capacity- and capability-building
component to ensure that the skills of the
Aboriginal workforce can be strengthened
and shared over time. This will allow broader
prevention efforts to continue to be informed
by the innovation and impact of prevention
initiatives supporting Aboriginal communities.
DIVERSITY AND
INTERSECTIONALITY
Free from violence recognises that the
Victorian population is diverse and that
people’s lives are complex and not defined by
any one factor. Gender, class, ethnicity, ability,
sexuality, gender identity, religion and age
influence and impact on the lived experience
of individuals and communities. Social
structures and systems, and the way they
intersect, play a large role in creating social
conditions that shape the ways in which
people experience inequality, disadvantage
and violence.
Implementation of Free from violence will
incorporate an intersectional lens at all stages
of the process, including in the development,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation
of activities. Prevention activities will be
developed with community members and
sector partners to ensure that initiatives are
As such, the actions within this plan to support
relevant, practical and valid, and that they
Aboriginal people and their communities
meet the diverse needs of individuals and
will be developed by Aboriginal community-
communities. Approaches to prevention will
controlled organisations and communities,
reflect diversity, and be tailored to respond
for their communities. The following principles
to diverse and intersectional experiences
will guide decision making for such initiatives
of family violence. Strategies will strengthen
across the priority areas:
community capacity to build and maintain
…… taking a community-led approach, with healthy and respectful relationships.1
funding provided to Aboriginal-led services, Initiatives will be flexible, inclusive, responsive
including Aboriginal community-controlled and strengths-based.
organisations and Indigenous family
Knowing how different social conditions
violence regional action groups
intersect to drive violence against different
…… ensuring transparency in decision making individuals or groups is critical to ensuring
that the prevention strategies are effective
…… harnessing local knowledge
for all people across our diverse Victorian
…… supporting self-determination community. The research agenda will
include targeted activities to identify and
…… ensuring cultural overlay
address gaps in existing evidence and
…… taking a strengths-based approach. knowledge, especially for diverse groups.
1 See the Diversity and Intersectionality Framework.
15KEY INITIATIVES
BY PRIORITY AREA
TIMELINE
KEY INITIATIVES 2018
1. Build prevention structures and systems
A Family Violence Prevention
Agency will be established.
Prevention practitioners will
be embedded to work with the
LGBTI community, seniors and
Aboriginal sectors to improve
primary prevention practice
capacity and capability.
2. Research and evaluate
Critical A Victorian A long-term
knowledge Family Violence research agenda
gaps will be Prevention 2019-2021 will be
identified for Research launched by the
immediate Alliance will be Family Violence
research. established. Research Alliance.
3. Innovate and inform
An innovation fund will be launched to
support and drive innovative prevention
practices in local communities.
An innovation fund will be launched to
support Aboriginal-led services including
Aboriginal community-controlled
organisations and Indigenous family violence
regional action groups to design and deliver
innovative prevention programs.
4. Scale up and build on what we know works
Prevention Up to five universities Local governments
programs will and TAFEs across will deliver innovative
commence the state will be prevention activity across
in Victorian supported to deliver a range of settings.
public sector whole-of-university
workplaces. prevention initiatives. Design and delivery of
prevention activity in
antenatal and postnatal
settings will be supported.
5. Engage and communicate with the community
The Victoria
Phase two of the prevention of family violence
Against
behaviour change campaign will commence.
Violence
Aboriginal and LGBTI media 16 Days of
campaigns will be launched. Activism
Campaign 2018
The elder abuse media will commence.
campaign will be launched.
16 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLAN2019 2020 2021
Expanded local and
Specialist primary The Family Violence
regional prevention
prevention training will Prevention Agency will
infrastructure will support
enhance prevention continue to coordinate
prevention efforts across
knowledge and skills and drive prevention
metropolitan, rural and
for new and existing activity in Victoria
regional Victoria.
prevention practitioners
and contributors.
New data sets will Findings from extended The evidence base on
inform the monitoring, Community Partnerships what works to prevent
evaluation and the for Primary Prevention family violence and
reporting framework. projects will begin to violence against women
emerge. will be significantly
stronger.
Understanding what
causes violence and
what works to prevent
it will have advanced
significantly.
New and innovative Understanding what Insights generated
ideas and approaches works to prevent from the testing of
to preventing violence, violence will be innovative ideas will
will be underway in a accelerated by inform the design
range of settings and new and emerging and delivery of
sectors. insights. prevention initiatives.
Prevention efforts will be
embedded and expanded
across a range of settings,
reaching Victorians in the
places where we live, work,
learn and play.
The prevention Evaluation The Victorian
of family violence of previous community will
behaviour campaign campaigns have a deeper
will continue. will inform the understanding of
design of new what family violence
communications is, what causes it,
campaigns. and the role we
all have to play in
preventing it.
17Specific communications activities will PRIORITY AREA ONE: BUILD
be targeted at different communities, PREVENTION STRUCTURES
including LGBTI communities, people with a AND SYSTEMS
disability, culturally and linguistically diverse
communities, and older people. Establishing a Family Violence
Innovation will focus on developing new Prevention Agency
approaches for diverse communities, to be As recommended by the Royal Commission
applied in new settings so we can better into Family Violence, the Victorian Government
understand what works to prevent violence. will establish a new Family Violence Prevention
The development of a robust monitoring Agency to coordinate and drive primary
and evaluation framework for all prevention prevention efforts in Victoria to, over the long-
activities will include indicators and measures term, reduce and ultimately prevent family
that are relevant and meaningful for people violence and violence against women.
from diverse communities.
The Agency will work with prevention partners,
including Victorian statewide agencies, the
women’s and community health sectors, peak
bodies, specialist organisations, national
peers, local government, prevention workforce
development partners and the Victorian
community.
18 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLANEstablishing the Family Violence Prevention Work already underway
Agency will harness the growing momentum
in the community to prevent family violence Funding secured for a Family Violence
by enabling community action, supporting Prevention Agency
Aboriginal self-determination and ensuring
Dedicated and ongoing funding of $3 million
a broad reach of initiatives to support all
per annum was secured as part of the
Victorians.
2016–2017 State Budget to establish a Family
Violence Prevention Agency. The Office of
Prevention and Women’s Equality has been
Indicators from the Outcomes undertaking consultations with government
Framework that will be progressed by and non-government organisations
the long-term action in priority area one progressing long-term social change to
include: identify key success factors for agency
establishment. The Office has received
…… increased awareness of what expert advice and analysis, including from
constitutes violence the Ministerial Taskforce on the Prevention of
…… increased recognition of the Family Violence and other forms of Violence
significant impact of violence on against Women, on proposed roles and
victim survivors functions for the Agency. This is being used to
inform the development of the Agency.
…… increased awareness and
understanding of the extent and Next steps
impact of gender inequality**
We will:
…… decrease in attitudes that justify,
excuse, minimise, hide or shift blame 1.1 Establish a Family Violence Prevention
for violence Agency
…… increased visible rejection of violence We will establish a Family Violence Prevention
by public and community leaders Agency to embed, coordinate and drive
and in media primary prevention of family violence efforts
…… decrease in sexist and discriminatory in Victoria over the long term.
attitudes and behaviours
…… increase in organisations and Responds to recommendation 188 of
institutions with systems to support the Royal Commission into Family
people who challenge sexism and Violence
discrimination
…… increased confidence in the systems We will:
and structures dedicated to
preventing violence 1.2 Continue the Victorian Government’s
…… increased number of organisations funding contribution to key national
and institutions who model and prevention architecture
promote inclusive behaviour
We will continue to support Our Watch, a
…… increased understanding of what national foundation to prevent violence
constitutes healthy, supportive and against women and their children, and
safe relationships. ANROWS, Australia’s National Research
Organisation for Women’s Safety.
** Safe and strong: A Victorian gender
equality strategy indicator
19STRENGTHENING THE PRIMARY …… We have continued to invest in the
PREVENTION WORKFORCE: successful Gender and Disability Workforce
LINKING WITH BUILDING FROM Development Program to support disability
STRENGTH service workers to embed primary
prevention into their work.
The specialist primary prevention sector is a
small but growing sector. Primary prevention …… The Women’s Health Association of Victoria
of family violence and violence against has been funded to increase the capability
women practitioners currently have a wide of the workforce in women’s health services
range of academic backgrounds including in the prevention of violence against
health promotion, public health, gender women, and to strengthen the broader
studies, education, community development, prevention of violence against women
youth work and public policy. Delivery of sector.
prevention activities at scale will require
Next steps
workers across a range of settings, including
schools, workplaces, communities and the We will deliver the following actions in
media, to have skills and knowledge to partnership with the Centre for Workforce
implement primary prevention activity. Excellence:
Work already underway 1.3 Translate the Preventing Family Violence
…… The Centre for Workforce Excellence, and Violence Against Women Capability
in partnership with key prevention Framework to sector- and community-
stakeholders, has developed the Preventing specific contexts and develop new
Family Violence and Violence Against accredited primary prevention units of
Women Capability Framework. The competency
framework aims to clearly articulate
We will undertake a project to forecast the
the knowledge and skills needed to
size, skill and location requirements of the
engage in primary prevention of family
primary prevention workforce to inform future
violence activities, for practitioners and
training and workforce development needs.
contributors. Prevention of violence
against women practitioners specialise in
designing, implementing and monitoring 1.4 Develop and deliver new training in
prevention of family violence and violence primary prevention
against women initiatives and policy within
We will support the design and delivery of
and across settings. Practitioners may work
specialist primary prevention training to
in dedicated primary prevention or gender
enhance prevention knowledge and skills for
equity agencies or organisations but, for
new and existing prevention practitioners
the most part, they work within a range
and contributors. Training will support
of settings, including local government,
existing practitioners to advance to a more
community health and women’s health
comprehensive level of practice, and new
organisations. Prevention of violence
practitioners entering into the prevention
against women contributors have core
workforce. This training will be the foundation
duties and responsibilities that do not
for the development of a long-term training
focus on prevention of family violence and
approach for specialist primary prevention
violence against women, but they play
practitioners.
a role in primary prevention initiatives
and policies within diverse sectors across
1.5 Support the establishment of
a range of workforces. The framework
communities of practice and models
will guide the development and growth
of practice development for primary
of the primary prevention workforce,
prevention practitioners and contributors
and is intended for use by government,
education and training providers, sector Communities and models of practice
leaders, and management and human will foster sharing, learning and practice
resources in organisations. The framework development.
will be used for a range of purposes such
as shaping formal and informal learning
and development, role design, promoting
cross-sectoral practice, communication
in multidisciplinary work and supporting
recruitment.
20 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLANBUILDING FROM STRENGTH:
10-YEAR INDUSTRY PLAN FOR
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION
AND RESPONSE
Building from strength: 10-year industry
plan for family violence prevention and
response was launched in December
2017 and is a key element of the Victorian
Government’s family violence reform
agenda. Building from strength aims to
sustainably shift the way we prevent and
respond to family violence and violence
against women.
At its core is the creation of a system where
the specialist family violence and primary
prevention sectors work together with BUILDING FROM
the community services, health, justice, STRENGTH
education and training sectors to respond 10-Year Industry Plan for Family
Violence Prevention and Response
to the complexity and harms of family
violence and violence against women, and
to prevent this violence from occurring in
the first place.
Building from strength has a broad
scope across all workforces that intersect
with family violence with respect to
Building from strength sets out a long-term
building family violence and primary
vision for a workforce that is supported,
prevention capability. It has a specific
valued, skilled and diverse. It outlines
focus on the specialist family violence
directions and immediate priority actions
and the primary prevention sectors with
to lay the groundwork for sustained and
regard to consistent and coordinated
enduring change.
services, workforce supply and health
and wellbeing of the workforce. The plan A series of three-year rolling action plans
spans the continuum from prevention will be developed, building on what works,
to response, recognising that having a incorporating emerging evidence and
system of services in place to respond responding to the changing family violence,
to family violence and violence against primary prevention and broader systems. The
women is matched by the need to prevent first Building from strength rolling action plan
the violence from occurring. will be released in May 2018.
211.6 Support capacity building of the women’s PRIORITY AREA TWO: RESEARCH
health sector AND EVALUATE
We will support the Women’s Health There is a growing body of national and
Association of Victoria for a second year to international research and evidence on the
strengthen the capacity and capability of causes and impacts of family violence and
the women’s health sector to prevent family violence against women, including what
violence and violence against women. works to prevent it. As the focus on prevention
expands across the state, we will take action
Further support will be made available to the
to ensure that practice continues to be
women’s health sector to build the workforce
supported by a strong evidence base, that
capacity of regional partners to prevent
new and emerging findings are shared, and
family violence and violence against women.
that data is available and up to date. We will
take action to ensure that critical gaps in
1.7 Embed prevention practitioners evidence are filled, particularly when they
We will pilot a model of embedding prevention relate to violence against older Victorians;
practitioners in the LGBTI community, seniors Aboriginal people and communities; people
and Aboriginal sectors to improve primary with a disability; culturally and linguistically
prevention practice capacity and capability. diverse groups; adolescent violence; and
violence in LGBTI communities.
1.8 Support the disability sector and To do this, the Victorian Government
workforce will establish a statewide research and
evaluation agenda through Victoria’s
We will continue to invest in the successful first Family Violence Prevention Research
Gender and Disability Workforce Development Alliance. The alliance will bring together
Program to support disability service workers academics, researchers and evaluators with
to embed primary prevention into everyday an interest and expertise in the prevention
practice. of family violence and all forms of violence
against women to identify immediate
1.9 Support future workforces to drive research priorities and set a long-term
prevention efforts research agenda with government. This will
complement the existing work of ANROWS,
We will work with professional bodies,
Australia’s National Research Organisation
universities and TAFEs to embed an
for Women’s Safety.
understanding of prevention practice into
the preservice qualifications of a range
of workforces for example social workers,
teachers, youth workers and nurses. By
providing new graduates across a range of
professions with the skills and knowledge
to implement prevention frameworks and
practice into their work we will maximise the
opportunity for prevention.
22 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLANThere will be an ongoing commitment to Work already underway
and investment in high-quality evaluation
…… In developing Free from violence, the
through the development of a monitoring,
Victorian Government commissioned
evaluation and reporting framework for Free
a report to identify:
from violence. This framework will assess the
impact and outcomes of our actions and …… gaps in knowledge relating to all
ensure a continuous cycle of review, with manifestations of family violence
emerging lessons improving our approach
…… factors that contribute to experiences
over time. Findings will directly inform the
of family violence among diverse
design and delivery of future activities for
communities
priority area three (‘Innovate and inform’) and
priority area four (‘Scale up and build on what …… existing knowledge on what works to
we know works’). prevent family violence with different
population groups and the key gaps in
By 2021, we will have built and strengthened
evidence that pose significant barriers
family violence prevention knowledge and
to preventing family violence.
practice through sound, evidence-based
research, monitoring and evaluation. Victoria The report, Family violence primary
will continue to lead the way in prevention prevention: Building a knowledge base
research and practice. and identifying gaps for all manifestations
of family violence, developed by the
Equality Institute, is available at
Indicators from the Outcomes www.vic.gov.au/familyviolence/prevention-
Framework that will be progressed strategy
by the long-term action in priority area …… Recognising the significant gaps in
two include: research and knowledge with respect
…… increased awareness of what to family violence for people from LGBTI
constitutes violence communities, the Victorian Government
initiated a review of research on the
…… increased recognition of the broader determinants of violence against
significant impact of violence on LGBTI people that have an impact on
victim survivors rates and patterns of family violence
…… increased awareness and specific to LGBTI people. To identify
understanding of the extent and effective prevention strategies for LGBTI
impact of gender inequality** communities, it is necessary to understand
LGBTI people’s experiences of violence,
…… decrease in attitudes that justify, including family violence. The findings from
excuse, minimise, hide or shift blame this research, undertaken by Our Watch
for violence and Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, will
inform the development of innovative
…… increase in organisations and
activity supported under priority area three
institutions with systems to support
(‘Innovate and inform’).
people who challenge sexism and
discrimination …… The Royal Commission into Family Violence
recommended that the Family Violence
…… increased confidence in the systems
Index measure, as far as possible, the
and structures dedicated to
extent of and response to family violence
preventing violence.
in different communities. The purpose of
** S
afe and strong: A Victorian gender the index is to enable the measurement
equality strategy indicator of future policy impacts, system
improvements and investments in family
violence prevention and responses. Phase
one of the Family Violence Index project
scoped potential ways in which this could
be done. Phase two of the Family Violence
Index is now underway and will consider
synergies with the Outcomes Framework.
23Next steps 2.3 Commission immediate research and
establish a Family Violence Prevention
We will:
Research Alliance
2.1 Continue to develop the Free from We will commission immediate research to
violence Outcomes Framework and fill critical gaps in knowledge around what
Family Violence Index works to prevent family violence and violence
against women, particularly for Aboriginal
We will do further work to distil the indicators
people and communities, culturally and
that will allow us to measure progress
linguistically diverse communities (with a
against the Outcomes Framework. Data
focus on refugee and migrant woman), LGBTI
sources will be mapped and new data sets
communities, university settings, seniors,
will be commissioned to ensure that progress
women with a disability, bystanders and men.
can be monitored over time. As part of
this project, a monitoring, evaluation and A Family Violence Prevention Research
reporting framework will be developed for Alliance will bring together academics,
the strategy. researchers and evaluators with an interest
and expertise in family violence prevention
We will continue to progress the development
and behavioural science and public health.
of a Family Violence Index as recommended
The alliance will inform the development
by the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
of a long-term, strategic prevention
research agenda. The research agenda will
Responds to recommendation 143 complement the existing work of ANROWS,
of the Royal Commission into Family Our Watch, VicHealth and other leading
prevention organisations and experts.
Violence
2.4 Identify opportunities to scale up existing
Community Partnerships for Primary
2.2 Undertake an audit of prevention activity
Prevention projects
across Victoria
We will undertake further evaluation of
An audit of prevention activity will identify
the Community Partnerships for Primary
opportunities for prevention initiatives
Prevention grants program to identify
across the priority areas of Free from
opportunities for the scale up or expansion of
violence and will inform future sequencing
existing partnerships, models and activity.
and scope of activity.
24 FREE FROM VIOLENCE – FIRST ACTION PLANPRIORITY AREA THREE: INNOVATE The findings of new and emerging research
AND INFORM evidence and program evaluations from
priority area two (‘Research and evaluate’) will
There are many organisations and sectors feed into the design of innovative programs
that are capable and willing to test new and activities, including research from across
prevention activities, as well as opportunities jurisdictions and internationally.
to trial existing programs in new settings
and with different communities. There is also Evaluation will be a key feature of each
an opportunity to better understand how to innovation activity from the outset and will
innovate in the prevention of family violence inform decision making about innovation
and all forms of violence against women. This activities or elements of activities that can be
includes applying the learning from other incorporated into priority area four (‘Scale up
successful public health prevention programs and build on what we know works’). Results
and social change campaigns such as the from ongoing monitoring and evaluation will
prevention of skin cancer and promotion of contribute to the broader prevention evidence
road safety. base so that lessons from innovative activities
can be built on and incorporated into new
To build our knowledge of effective primary and revised activity.
prevention in different settings and contexts,
we will embrace and utilise innovation in the Innovation will be supported with funding for
design, implementation and evaluation of new testing initiatives in priority areas. A specific
techniques and programs – by 2021, we will family violence prevention innovation fund
have trialled, tested and evaluated a range will support Aboriginal-led services to design,
of new and innovative initiatives so we better monitor and evaluate innovative prevention
understand what works to prevent violence. practice for the Aboriginal community.
Innovative practice will also develop the
evidence base about new activities that will
achieve gender equality change in media
and reporting and at sporting clubs and
associations.
Indicators from the Outcomes Framework that will be progressed by the long-term action
in priority area three include:
…… increased awareness of what constitutes violence
…… increased recognition of the significant impact of violence on victim survivors
…… increased awareness and understanding of the extent and impact of gender inequality**
…… decrease in attitudes that justify, excuse, minimise, hide or shift blame for violence
…… decrease in sexist and discriminatory attitudes and behaviours
…… increase in organisations and institutions with systems to support people who challenge
sexism and discrimination
…… increased confidence in the systems and structures dedicated to preventing violence
…… decrease in acceptance of bullying or controlling behaviour.
** Safe and strong: A Victorian gender equality strategy indicator
25Work already underway Next steps
…… The Bystanders for Prevention project We will:
applied a behavioural insights approach
to improve understanding of the most 3.1 Deliver an innovation fund to support
effective ways young people and men can innovative prevention practice
be supported to stand up to instances of
sexism and discrimination. Extending the An innovation fund will support innovative
findings of this initial work, a behavioural prevention practice across rural, regional and
insights bystander trial will be delivered in metropolitan Victoria.
key settings.
3.2 Support innovation in the prevention of
…… Initiatives for the prevention of elder violence against Aboriginal people
abuse and associated community
awareness raising campaigns are being We will support Aboriginal-led services,
rolled out in partnership with Carers including Aboriginal community-controlled
Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria. This organisations and Indigenous family violence
includes a media campaign, 10 local elder regional action groups, to design and deliver
abuse networks, an ambassador for elder innovative prevention activity. The program
abuse and research into elder abuse. will take a strengths-based approach and
Further work will be undertaken in priority will ensure that Aboriginal-led services are
area two (‘Research and evaluate’) supported to lead innovative prevention
and priority area five (‘Engage and action for Aboriginal communities.
communicate with the community’).
…… Funding has been provided to community 3.3 Pilot programs to support gender
grantees to prevent violence for culturally equality and primary prevention in
and linguistically diverse groups. media and reporting
We will deliver a program to develop gender
equality and prevention in media and reporting.
This will link closely with early actions around
gender equality identified in Safe and strong.
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