• Eltringham, Domestic Violence Resource Centre • Annette Gillespie, CEO, Safe Steps • Associate Professor Jan Monash University • Beth Allen, Assistant Director, Child Protection • Stacey Gabriel/Louise Collett, Acting Executive Director, Department of Education and Training • Judith Abbot, Director, Prevention, Population, Primary and Community Health, DHHS • Suzie Fry, Principal Policy Officer, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit Community Operations and Victim Support Agency, Department of Justice • Erica Potts, Senior Project Manager, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit Community Operations and Victims Support Agency, Department of Justice • Maya Avdibegovic, Chief Executive Officer, InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence.
specific threat or detailed plan to kill? 2. More specific assessment of level of risk Has ever harmed or threatened to harm victim* Need to have very specific differentiation between harm and threat to harm Specify nature of harm caused in physical violence – serious or minor injury, miscarriage? More specific assessment of level of risk Has ever harmed or threatened to harm or kill children* Need to have very specific differentiation between harm and threat to harm More specific assessment of level of risk Has ever harmed or threatened to harm or kill family members Need to have very specific differentiation between harm and threat to harm More specific assessment of level of risk Has ever harmed or threatened to harm or kill pets or other animals* Need to have very specific differentiation between harm and threat to harm Specify nature of harm and threat to animal – harm to current pets, harmed pets in the past, killed pet or animal? More specific assessment of level of risk Has ever threatened or tried to commit suicide* Specify whether suicide threatened or attempted More specific assessment of of risk Stalking of victim* The use of technology to stalk should be specifically indicted has emerged as major factor in family violence since the development of the CRAF in 2007 Sexual assault of victim Forced to have unprotected sex Pertinent for LGTBIQ Previous or current breach of Intervention Order Drug and/or alcohol misuse/abuse* What type of drugs? Different drugs may indicate different threat levels. For example, ice may indicate a higher level of risk than marijuana. Obsession/jealous behaviour towards victim* Risk factors associated with the perpetrator’s state of mind, propensity to use severe/lethal violence, and intent to punish/enact revenge on the victim for defying him Should be included even when other risks might seem not to be present e.g. the perpetrator is not in regular contact
33 Department of Education and Training 34 Department of Health and Human Services 35 Department of Immigration and Border Protection 36 Department of Premier and Cabinet 37 Department of Treasury and Finance 38 Djerriwarrh Health Services 39 Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria 40 Domestic Violence Victoria 41 Early Childhood and School Education Group 42 Eastern Health 43 Family Life Service Centre 44 Familycare 45 Federation of Community Legal Centres 46 Financial and Consumer Rights Council 47 Frankston Magistrates' 48 Gatehouse Centre, Royal Children's Hospital 49 Gippsland Lakes Community Health Inc. 50 Good Shepherd 51 Greater Dandenong Council 52 Melbourne Community Health 53 Inner North West Primary Care Partnership 54 inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
Appendix 4: Modified and newly developed tools, procedures and frameworks in Victoria beyond the CRAF Risk assessment tools and frameworks Developing organisation Tool name (with links underneath) Year developed/ period of use Tool objectives Relationship to the CRAF Another Closet (NSW but available nationally) (Tool) 2014 To self-identify if one is experiencing domestic and family violence in LBGTIQ relationships Self-identifying domestic violence checklist in LGBTIQ relationships. Asks CRAF-related questions but includes additional questions. Do you • change your behaviour or your appearance so your partner doesn’t get angry? • avoid talking about money or other topics? • feel scared, anxious or like you are ‘walking on eggshells’? • cut yourself off from your friends or family? Has or does your partner (or ex-partner) • humiliate you, call you names or make fun of you or your body in a way that is designed to hurt or control you? • threaten to ‘out’ your sexuality, gender (identity, expression or history) or intersex to your friends, family or work? • threaten to ‘out’ your health status (i.e. HIV status)? • prevent you from attending LGBTIQ events or venues? • have sudden outbursts of anger? • make it difficult, or prevent you, from seeing friends or family? • control your against your will? • lock you in the house or make it difficult for you to leave?
• Does the perpetrator ignore police or authority figures / court orders? • Verbal abuse? Australian Government and Australian Institute of Social Relations (Australia) (Guide) 2010 To provide workers in the family law system with a and practical understanding of family violence, its impact and appropriate responses to promote safety for everyone involved This is a multidisciplinary training package designed for a of professionals who work in the family law system to give them a sound understanding of family violence. Developed by Relationships South Australia, this package is to be used in conjunction with DOORS (below) and is aimed at: • legal practitioners • judicial officers • counsellors • psychologists • social workers • advisers • court staff, including family report writers • family consultants • family dispute resolution practitioners • child contact service workers. Australian Government Department, Family Transitions and Australian Detection of Overall Risk Screen (DOORS) DOOR 1: Parent Self Report (Tool) 2011 Tool for professionals that work in the family law system to assist with preliminary screening of safety and wellbeing (for victims and perpetrators) The Family Law DOORS complements AVERT Family Violence by providing a solid understanding of risks to safety or wellbeing for families who are separating or separated and are proceeding through the family law system. DOORS is a two-stage screening tool and response planning resource.
Infoxchange (Australia and New Zealand) Checklist for practitioners to assess the risk of family violence to clients The risk factors included in this checklist are from the CRAF ‘risk factors for perpetrators’ section of the tool. Judith Lumley Centre, La University (Victoria) Improving Maternal and Child Health Care for Vulnerable Mothers (MOVE) project 2012–2015 Pilot project. Checklist filled out by new mothers at MCH visits postpartum (three or four months) The Improving Maternal and Child Health Care for Vulnerable Mothers (MOVE) project was designed to see whether a maternal and child health (MCH) nurse-designed screening and care model increased and sustained domestic violence screening, disclosure, safety planning and referrals compared with usual care. The MOVE intervention included a checklist with questions to be completed by the mother during MCH visits. The checklist involves general health questions about the mother and specific questions about family violence and/or safety: • Do you have any problems in your relationship or intimacy with your partner? • Has anyone in your household ever humiliated you or tried to control what you can and cannot do? • Are you in any way worried about the safety of yourself or your children? • Are you afraid of someone in your family? • Has anyone in your household ever pushed, hit, kicked, punched or otherwise hurt you? Journal article outlines protocol for MOVE: a cluster randomised of screening and referral for intimate Taft, A.J., Small, R., Humphreys, C., Hegarty, K., Walter, R., Adams, C. and Agius, P. (2012) Enhanced maternal and child health nurse care for women experiencing intimate partner/family violence: Protocol for MOVE, a cluster randomised of screening and referral in primary health care. BMC Medicine, 12:811
Victoria Police (Victoria) Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Report L17 (Tool) July 2013 Tool to assess risk and to put a management strategy in CRAF-related risk assessment questions about the victim, perpetrator, their relationship and the current incident. Includes a risk management strategy. Victoria Police – Family Violence Command (Victoria) ‘Ready Reckoner’ Family Violence Risk Assessment Questions (Tool) September 2015 tool to assess risk to victim and children The record of the outcomes of this tool to be recorded on the L17 (above). The ‘ready reckoner’ tool is drawn from the CRAF with additional questions: • Did you partner use physical violence towards you while you were pregnant? • When did you last call the police regarding abuse by this person? • How long has this been happening? • Is your partner controlling access to • Are there any children in the household? • Is there any conflict regarding child contact and/or current Family Court proceedings? • Are there any children from a previous relationship residing in the household? • Have any of the children been exposed to (witnessed) the violence? • Have children ever intervened in the violence? Questions to the victims • Do you have any disability that police need to be aware of?
• Do you believe your residency in Australia is dependent on this person? Victoria Police (Victoria) Victoria Police Screening Assessment for Family Violence Risk – Development and Validation (Guide) 2016 Development and validation of actuarial tool Development and validation of questions to ask to assess level of risk – Actuarial tool Victoria Police (NWM 2 & 3 Family Violence Project) (Victoria) ‘Enhancing Police Responses to Family Violence’ Project VP1463 (VP-SAFvR RV&TF) Informal Referral (Tool) March 2016 Actuarial tool to understand likelihood of family violence occurring Tool designed to understand likelihood of family violence requiring police response occurring This is drawn from the CRAF with additional questions: • How long has family violence been occurring in this relationship? • Were there children (under 18) present during the current incident? • Are there any prior family violence incidents involving the two parties? • Does the current Respondent have any prior family violence incidents as the Respondent or the AFM? • Has been previous violence between the AFM and Respondent that has not been reported to police? • Are there any Family Law Court/Child Protection orders in place or ongoing proceedings? • Are there any child custody or access issues between the AFM and Respondent?
• Provide participants with effective and relevant specialist CRAF Training that incorporates specific additional focus on the application in the Aboriginal family violence context including – shared understanding of the CRAF – risk assessment, risk analysis, risk evaluation – risk factors – CRAF risk assessment template – levels of risk – risk management – cultural and safety planning – information and referral. Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services (Victoria) February 2014 Framework for developing service delivery for families where adolescents use violence This service delivery framework was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services and is consistent with the CRAF training. The key objectives of the AFV program are to: • increase the safety of all family members • engage with and assist young people who are at risk of a range of negative consequences as a result of their use of family violence • strengthen parenting capacity • strengthen the young person’s emotional wellbeing, communication and problem-solving skills • increase the young person’s (and their family’s) connection to their culture and community
• promote and strengthen positive parent-adolescent relationships and attachment. Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services (Victoria) Men who use violent and controlling behaviours A framework for comprehensive assessment in men’s behaviour change programs: Safety, accountability and human rights (Guide and Tool) October 2009 This is a framework, guide and assessment tool for men who use violent and controlling behaviours Timely and appropriate responses to men who use violent and controlling behaviour are a key component of an integrated family violence system. To ensure that the safety of and children is protected at all times, it is important that clear referral pathways and intake processes are provided for men who use violent and controlling behaviour, and that men’s behaviour change work is undertaken in a skilled and systemic way. This framework has been developed to achieve greater commonality of practice among men’s behaviour change programs with regard to: • initial and continuous identification of risks, threats and dangers to the safety of women and children • facilitating men’s entry into the health and community service system • assessing men’s suitability for participation in a men’s behaviour change program • ongoing review of men’s participation in a men’s behaviour change program. Initial and continuous identification of risks, threats and dangers to safety for women and children For men’s behaviour change program providers, risk assessment and risk management of women and children (even when not undertaken by the program providers themselves) are a vital aspect of comprehensive assessment. The CRAF assessment tool is included in this guide. Victorian Government January 2013 This practice guide aims to support family violence professionals The practice guide includes:
Screening Tool (RAST) incidents, as well as use of threats and violence, including the number of physical injuries. The total score correlates with a risk rating of low, medium or high. been assaulted in the past. Risk to children is managed through Child Protection Services. Western Australia 2011 (first edition), 2015 (second edition) Actuarial tool with professional judgement Based on the Victorian CRAF. A checklist of risk factors to guide assessment of risk of serious harm and immediate safety concerns. Checklist includes victim- and perpetrator-focused items. Establishes minimum standards that guide risk identification, screening, response and referrals as well as safety planning and risk management. Used to refer individuals to the Coordinated Response Service. All agencies: government, mainstream and specialist services. Child protection workers must undertake an assessment of the risks to the child and the adult victim using multiple information sources. Risks for the child are not assumed to be the same as risks for the victim. If children are considered to be at risk, a referral to the Department for Child Protection must be made. 5b: Key International Risk Assessment Tool Approach Country (year) of development Key focus Target profession Revisions (DA) Structured clinical assessment tool United States (1986) Assess risk of life-threatening injury or faced by a female victim of IPV Developed for emergency hospital personnel. Now used by law enforcement, health care professionals, and domestic violence services 2008 revision: introduction of (measures risk of repeat offending in female same-sex relationships)
2013 revision: DA-1 (measures risk for immigrant women) (LAP) Structured clinical assessment tool United States (2005) Assess risk of serious injury or death by an intimate partner Developed to encourage collaboration between frontline police and domestic violence service providers n/a Actuarial approach United States (2006) Assess risk of perpetrator reoffending (including imminent risk of violence) Developed for criminal justice professionals, particularly corrections case management staff Updated version created Kingston Screening Instrument for Domestic Violence Actuarial tool United States (1990) Assess risk of reoffending for IPV Developed for the justice profession n/a (ODARA) Actuarial approach Canada (2001) Assess risk of repeated domestic violence (perpetrator focused) Developed for police and criminal justice professionals, including corrections and probations services n/a Domestic Violence Risk Appraisal (DVRAG) Actuarial approach Canada Assess risk of re-assaults among male IPV perpetrators Developed for corrections professionals n/a (SARA) Structured judgement approach Canada (1999) Assess risk of IPV Developed for criminal justice professionals Shorter version of the tool created: the (contains 10 items)
described in the L17 relating to the application • the family violence intervention orders sought by police and whether the affected family member consents to those orders. A Victoria Police representative – for example, the police prosecutor, a civil advocate or the family violence court liaison officer – should discuss the particulars of the affidavit with the affected family member before the hearing. 67 The Magistrates’ Court of Victoria registry, in all police-initiated applications for family violence intervention orders, provide to the magistrate a summary indicating the status of any related proceedings in the Children’s Court of Victoria (or vice-versa), the Family Court of Australia and/or the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. If information is not available from other jurisdictions, this should be stated. In non-police initiated family violence intervention orders, the Magistrates’ Court registry should also provide the information recommended to be provided by Victoria Police in an application initiated by it. The Magistrates’ Court registry should also adopt a practice of providing risk assessments made by applicant and respondent support workers to magistrates as a matter of course. By 31 December 2017 85 The Victorian Government: • map the roles and responsibilities of all government and non-government agencies and service providers that have contact with perpetrators of family violence • confirm the principles that should inform the programs, services and initiatives required to respond to perpetrators of family violence who pose a high, medium or low risk to victims. Within 12 months 96 The Department of Health and Services require routine screening for family violence in all public antenatal settings. The screening guidance should be aligned with the revised Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework. Implementation will require targeted and continued training, the development of specific guidelines, and clinical support. By 31 December 2017 97 The Psychiatrist issue a guideline relating to family violence—including that family violence risk should be assessed when considering discharging or transferring care of a person receiving mental health services and when consulting with families or carers in relation to treatment planning. Within two years 99 The Victorian Government encourage and facilitate mental health, drug and alcohol and family violence services to collaborate by: • resourcing and promoting shared casework models • ensuring that mental health and drug and alcohol services are represented on Risk Assessment and Management Panels and other multi-agency risk management models at the local level. Within two years