Family violence practice changes: advancing safety and introducing new supporting resources

To ensure Monash Health provides a holistic response to family violence, four clinical levels of family violence practice have been introduced. These implement the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework and Information Sharing Schemes, which help provide a standard response across public services and the family violence sector.    

The four levels of family violence practice are: 

Sensitive Practice all clinicians will undertake. This includes Nurses, Doctors, Allied Health, Aboriginal Health, Dental Services, Diagnostic Imaging, South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) This is the baseline level of family violence practice at Monash Health and supports the Family Violence Sensitive Practice Clinical Guideline. The clinical guideline includes a Family Violence Flowchart and services list.
Screening for midwives working in maternity services. This is the same as sensitive practice, with the only difference being clinicians conducting routine screening of all their clients (Maternity services only) which is documented in BOS (Birthing Outcome System).
Intermediate Practice is for clinicians who are required to provide a more in-depth family violence response.

  • Mental Health Program – all staff who perform risk assessments (including clinicians, AOD, forensic, FaPMI, nursing, medical)
  • Forensic Mental Health in Community Health​
  • Social Workers​
  • Psychologists (all)​
  • Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (all clinicians)​
  • Refugee Health (Social Workers, Psychologists, Nurse Representative)​
  • Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (Doctors, Nurses)
The family violence intermediate practice procedure outlines the additional steps required and guidance on the use of risk assessment tools. It is an addendum to the family violence sensitive practice clinical guideline.
Comprehensive Practice is for South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (SECASA) only.

New tools now available on EMR and SMR 

To support the practice changes, five new tools have been built into EMR (Powerforms) and SMR (E-Notes and printable forms).   

  • Family Violence Identification Tool (for adult victim survivors) 
  • Family Violence Risk Assessment Tool (for adult victim survivors) 
  • Family Violence Child Risk Assessment Tool (for child victim survivors) 
  • Family Violence Safety Planning Tool (for adults and young people) 
  • Family Violence Progress Note 

The Information Sharing FVISS/CISS E-Note is available on SMR only.   

Learn more at our upcoming information session 

Join us on Thursday 27 July at 11am via Teams, as we explore the family violence practice changes, new tools available for clinicians in our EMR and SMR, and information about where to find support and resources. 

In addition to this one-off session, training courses are available through Latte: 

Information Sharing Schemes – for all clinicians  1 hour, three x
20-minute modules 
Family Violence Sensitive Practice (Victim Survivor) – for sensitive practice clinicians  1.5 hours, three x
30-minute modules 
Family Violence Intermediate Practice (Victim Survivor) – for intermediate practice clinicians  1.5 hours, three x
30-minute modules 
Family Violence Workplace Response: Supporting our Employees – targeted training for managers, however all staff able to complete  30-minute module 

Where can I find more information? 

If you require more information on the practice changes, please see our resources listed below:   

Note: More guidance is coming about working with people who use violence. 

Approved by: Adjunct Professor Katrina Nankervis, Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery



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