Fifteen groups in judicial, criminal and social service systems reach consensus on recommendations to prevent family violence

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Fifteen organisations across the judicial, criminal and social service systems have submitted recommendations to Victoria’s royal commission into family violence.

Led by the state’s magistrates court, the taskforce was established in November 2014 and includes Victoria police, Domestic Violence Victoria, and the Family Law Bar Association.

Although each organisation will also contribute to the royal commission individually, a statement from the taskforce said it had sought to reach a consensus on a number of measures it believes will prevent family violence.

After reviewing government and community resources available to victims and perpetrators, the taskforce made 12 recommendations, including making the court process more accessible and supportive of victims, ensuring organisations within the sector were coordinated in their response to risk, and making evidence-based behaviour change programs available to perpetrators.

The family violence court division should also be expanded statewide, so that family violence victims were always treated by specialists and given access to support services, regardless of location. Court staff should also receive specialist training.

“The members of the taskforce are committed to the elimination of family violence in Victoria,” the group said. “This work is ongoing.”

In a separate submission to the commission last week, the Victorian Council of Social Service called for a statewide strategy focusing on prevention, early intervention, and perpetrator accountability.

The government should work with the states and territories to improve data collection and reporting consistency to allow better comparison between jurisdictions, the council said.

Public hearings of the royal commission will begin on 13 July, when key stakeholders, experts and government representatives will talk about how to respond to family violence.