Monitoring Victoria's Family Violence Reforms: Accurate Identification of the Predominant Aggressor

• Foreword

  The Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor, Jan Shuard PSM, introduces the topic

• Monitoring Context

  The role of the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor, our monitoring approach for 2021–2022, and stakeholders consulted for this topic

• Introduction

  This report reflects monitoring of the Victorian Government’s implementation of family violence reforms in relation to the accurate identification of the predominant aggressor

• Key findings and proposed actions

  Key findings and proposed actions to address systemic misidentification

• What did the Royal Commission say and what has changed since?

  Work undertaken since the Royal Commission recommended that more needed to be done to ensure predominant aggressors are accurately identified

• Predominant aggressor identification is clearly described in government policies and resources

  Guidance on identifying the predominant aggressor in key government policies and resources

• Misidentification is a significant issue that has enormous consequences for the victim survivor

  Estimated prevalence of misidentification and analysis of the factors leading to, and consequences of, misidentification

• Acknowledging the complexity of the family violence incidents police attend, police practice and processes are contributing to misidentification

  Examination of police practice and process issues resulting in misidentification

• There is considerable variability in other parts of the service system picking up misidentification and alerting others

  Examination of how well Child Protection, the legal and court system, and victim and perpetrators services are detecting and responding to misidentification

• Rectification processes are insufficient in reversing the damage done to victim survivors

  The options available to rectify misidentification once it has been detected

• There is no ability to systematically understand and monitor issues within the system

  Availability of data relating to misidentification and the level of system monitoring of the issue

• Other issues

  A brief description of other issues relevant to the topic

• Glossary of relevant terms and abbreviations

  A glossary of relevant terms and abbreviations used in the report

• Family violence services and support

  Support if you have experienced violence or sexual assault and require immediate or ongoing assistance

• Victim survivor acknowledgement

  We acknowledge the impact of family violence on individuals, families and communities, and the strength and resilience of the children and adults who have, and are still, experiencing family violence

Updated 30 May 2023