GCSCS6005 Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management

This unit focuses on family violence and applied professional practice aimed at managing risk and increasing safety. Students will examine the historical, socio-political, and socio-economic structures that have shaped the development of family violence definitions, legislation, policy, and societal attitudes within the Australian context. Key to this is the Royal Commission into Family Violence (Royal Commission) that outlined a number of recommendations including the development of a new and shared risk assessment and management framework put into legislation (Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework (State of Victoria, 2021). This is relevant for all sectors and workforces that come in contact with family violence. All community and social services and each workforce is prescribed under regulation in line with Part 11 FVPA. Core practice skills in recognising and responding to family violence are examined and contextualized for working with adults experiencing FV, children experiencing FV, and persons using FV in practice settings such as the Aboriginal Specialist Family Violence (SFV) workforce and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). A strong emphasis is placed on culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approaches to working responsibly with people who use violence, while upholding Aboriginal and/or Torress Strait peoples¿ self-determination. Opportunities will be provided in class to work collaboratively to provide coordinated and effective risk assessment and management responses, including early response when family violence first occurs to avoid escalation into crisis and additional harm.

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