The Andrews Labor Government has allocated additional funding of $675,000 for training, aiming to help professionals identify, assess and manage the risk of family violence in Victoria.
This boost for training comes on top of the Labor Government’s $572 million response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations, as part of the Government’s $168 million Roadmap for Reform, which places an even greater focus on early intervention and prevention.
Following the Royal Commission into Family Violence, there has been increased demand for training in the Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework, also known as the common risk assessment framework (CRAF).
Since the program was launched in 2007, it has helped practitioners working in a wide range of fields to understand and identify risk factors associated with family violence, and to respond consistently and appropriately. In the last nine years, more than 6,500 workers have participated in the training.
“This investment in training is crucial to give our family violence specialists and other frontline professionals the best tools to identify, assess and manage risk to victims of family violence,” said Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos.
“While we know it is important to update the CRAF, ensuring it remains relevant and evidence-based; we also know how significant it has already been in identifying and responding to thousands of people who experience family violence.”
Training will continue statewide while the Labor Government reviews and redevelops the current CRAF – delivering on the first recommendation of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Hundreds of people have already contributed to the review through an online survey, interviews and focus groups which are being conducted by Monash University.
The next phase of redevelopment is due to begin next month and is expected to be complete by December 2017.