EVERYBODY

MATTERS
INCLUSION AND EQUITY STATEMENT
INCLUSION Noun /ɪnˈkluːʒ(ə)n/
Empowering access to opportunity, addressing structural
inequalities, tackling unconscious bias and developing
inclusive organisations.
Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government
1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 3002
EQUITY ek-wi-tee, noun. Just and fair inclusion. © The State of Victoria (Family Safety Victoria) December, 2018

An equitable society is one in which all can participate and

prosper. The goals of equity must be to create conditions that
allow all to reach their full potential. In short, equity creates This work, Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement, is licensed
a path from hope to change. under a Creative Commons Attribution

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on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria (Family Safety Victoria)
as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding,
including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo
INTERSECTIONALITY /ɪntəsɛkʃəˈnalɪti/, noun
and the Family Safety Victoria logo. To view a copy of this licence,
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Accessibility
To receive this publication in an accessible format phone (03) 9194 3100,
Aboriginal Acknowledgement using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or email
The Victorian Government acknowledges Victorian Aboriginal people as the First [email protected].
Peoples and Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and water on which This document is also available in PDF format at www.vic.gov.au/familyviolence.
we rely. We acknowledge and respect that Aboriginal communities are steeped
in traditions and customs built on a disciplined social and cultural order that has Disclaimer
sustained 60,000 years of existence. We acknowledge the significant disruptions This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its
to social and cultural order and the ongoing hurt caused by colonisation. employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind
We acknowledge the ongoing leadership role of Aboriginal communities in addressing or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims
and preventing family violence, and will continue to work in collaboration with First all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you
Peoples to eliminate family violence from all communities. relying on any information in this publication.

Family Violence Support Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this publication show models
and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services,
If you have experienced violence or sexual assault and require immediate or ongoing
facilities or recipients of services. This publication may contain images of
assistance, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) to talk to a counsellor from the
deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence hotline. For confidential support and
information, contact the Safe Steps 24/7 family violence response line on 1800 015 188. In this document, ‘Aboriginal’ refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait
If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the police Islander people. ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Koori/Koorie’ is retained when part of the
in your state or territory, or call 000 for emergency assistance. title of a report, program or quotation.

i / EVERYBODY MATTERS
CONTENTS
MINISTER’S FOREWORD 2

MESSAGE FROM THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND INTERSECTIONALITY 3

WORKING GROUP

1. ABOUT THIS STATEMENT 7

Audience 8
Consultation process 8
Building on the Royal Commission into Family Violence 9

2. LANGUAGE IN THIS STATEMENT 11

3. WHY INTERSECTIONALITY AS A FRAMEWORK? 15

How intersectionality applies 16
The case for change 18

4. OUR VISION 21
Call for Action 22

5. SUPPORTING FRAMEWORKS 25
Human Rights 26
Strengths-based 27
Trauma-informed 27
Cultural safety 27
Person-centred 29

6. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 31
Priority 1: Building knowledge 32
Priority 2: Building capacity and capability 34
Priority 3: Strengthening targeted services 38

7. NEXT STEPS 41
Developing a Blueprint 41
Immediate priorities to embed an intersectional approach 42

APPENDIX 47

1
MINISTER’S FOREWORD
The Victorian Government is deeply Achieving the vision requires collaborative
committed to addressing family violence. partnerships and efforts from government,
family violence services and the broader family
We need to keep all people with lived
violence and social service system. Together
experience of family violence safe,
we can build a more equitable system that
and hold perpetrators to account.
effectively supports all Victorians without
Individuals, families and communities discrimination based on gender, sexual
who experience family violence, orientation, ethnicity, religion, age or ability.
as well as perpetrators, are diverse
While the Statement focuses on the family
and multi-dimensional.
violence service system, it can also influence
The Royal Commission into Family Violence the way we undertake a broader range of
told us that for some groups in the community social service reforms, including for child
family violence is less visible and less well and family services.
understood than for others. Many also face
I thank the Diverse Communities and
additional barriers to reporting, seeking
Intersectionality Working Group, a key
and obtaining the help they need to be
family violence reform governance group,
safe and recover from violence.
who provided valuable guidance and
Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity contributions to shape this important
Statement sets out our long-term vision for Statement. I also thank the broad range of
the creation of a family violence system that stakeholders who devoted their time and
is more inclusive, responsive and accessible to expertise. I acknowledge the leadership
all Victorians. It acknowledges and recognises of the Special Minister of State in supporting
the diversity inherent within each of us, and the principles underpinning the Statement
the need for family violence and universal and his dedication to improving the
services to build a better understanding service system for diverse communities.
of the barriers that can prohibit inclusion
I look forward to seeing the positive change and
and access through the understanding and
results that will better support all Victorians
application of an intersectionality framework.
who access our family violence system.
The Statement’s vision for an inclusive, safe,
responsive and accountable system for all Hon Gabrielle Williams MP
Victorians will mean that anyone seeking Minister for Prevention of Family Violence
help for family violence will be able to choose
what service they access and know they will
receive the help they need. This is within our
grasp if we embrace our roles as champions,
challenge our current systems, and strive for
change that will deliver choice for all.

2 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
MESSAGE FROM THE
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
AND INTERSECTIONALITY
WORKING GROUP
Violence against women and family Historically, family violence services have
violence more broadly is a serious social been severely under-resourced and not
problem that must focus the attention of well placed to respond to marginalised
the entire community. communities. This Statement will guide the
development of inclusive family violence
For those of us who face exclusion as a
policy and service design that is so critical
result of our particular experiences or
for those who are currently shut out from
identity there is an even greater risk of
support. In this way, it is a vital component
violence and abuse.
of the ten-year vision for family violence
We know, for example, that Aboriginal in Victoria.
women are 45 times more likely to
A more responsive and inclusive service
experience violence than other women.
system will mean all Victorians will be safer.
We know that women with disabilities
When support is required, services will be
experience more frequent violence over a
informed and equipped to identify and
longer duration with more severe impact.
effectively respond to every individual.
We know that older people, people from
A critical part of this Inclusion and Equity
multicultural communities and people
Statement is the presence of champions
from LGBTIQ communities, can experience
within the family violence service system.
family violence in unique ways, and will
Without question, we must have the voice
face unique barriers to accessing the
and expertise of those with diverse lived
help they need.
experience as workers, advisors and service
The different experiences of marginalised users. As champions of diversity, we will
women are fundamentally caused by a lack enrich and empower the service system and
of access to resources and services, and benefit the entire community. It is beholden
the greater power differential that exists on all of us to champion this change.
as a result of the way society perceives
our identity. Keran Howe
Former Co-Chair
This Inclusion and Equity Statement must
Diverse Communities and Intersectionality
be seen as a central foundation of family
Working Group
violence reform.

3
MESSAGE FROM THE
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
AND INTERSECTIONALITY
WORKING GROUP
We all know that people from diverse The Everybody Matters: Inclusion and
communities have fundamentally different Equity Statement has been informed by
experiences of family violence. Those the work of the Diverse Communities and
differences are often shaped by social Intersectionality Working Group, created
attitudes, which in turn create structural to provide advice from a range of diverse
barriers and long-term disadvantage and perspectives about the complex lived
marginalisation including from the family experience of family violence. This is an
violence service system. important step in developing a strengths-
based, human-rights focused, inclusive
That’s why it’s especially important that
family violence service system which is
large-scale social reforms - such as family
here for all of us.
violence reform - recognise, support and
respond effectively to the voices of all The Statement presents the case for a
people with lived experiences as we work broader understanding of how our own
towards a better society. Regardless of characteristics intersect with family
whether your lived experience comes violence – through our researchers, our
through the lens of culture, disability, youth workforce and our champions for change.
or any other aspect of who you are, those We welcome all of you who want to learn
experiences bring a depth of knowledge from our knowledge and share our journey.
and expertise about how to create a
system that better responds to our diverse Leah van Poppel
characteristics, attributes and experiences. Co-Chair
Diverse Communities and Intersectionality
First and foremost, listening to the voices
Working Group
of people with lived experience from all
communities helps to develop a clear Chief Executive Officer
vision of how inclusion should be framed. Women with Disabilities Victoria
This is critical because how we think about
inclusion and equity on a day to day basis
informs what we do in practice. On the long
journey towards lasting change, we need to
begin by partnering with people who have
lived experiences of family violence to make
sure everyone is both visible and valuable,
and all voices are equally heard.

4 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
 Vision
An inclusive, safe, responsive and accountable system for all Victorians

Intersectionality

Supporting frameworks

Human rights Strengths- Trauma- Cultural safety Person-centred

based informed

Our call to action

Champions Challenge Change Choice

Strategic priorities

Building knowledge Building capacity Strengthening

and capability targeted services

Diverse communities
Women in or
Aboriginal Faith Older people exiting prison or
communities communities forensic institutions

People who People living in

work in the regional and rural Young people Male victims
sex industry communities

People Culturally and

People with experiencing linguistically LGBTIQ
disabilities mental health diverse communities
issues communities

2019–2022 Inclusion 2022–2025 Inclusion 2025–2029 Inclusion

and Equity Blueprint and Equity Blueprint and Equity Blueprint

Evaluation Evaluation Evaluation

Family Violence Outcomes Framework

5
1. ABOUT THIS
STATEMENT
An inclusive, safe, responsive and accountable system for
all Victorians

Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement is a ten-year commitment that supports
Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s Plan for Change to build an inclusive, safe, responsive
and accountable family violence system for all Victorians.

This Statement is a key response to the Royal Commission into Family Violence (Royal
Commission) recommendations, and represents a framework for building a more inclusive
system through an investment in systemic change and through building our capabilities,
knowledge and specialisation to achieve a system that is responsive to all. It recognises
that inclusive and equitable responses to family violence need to complement the inclusive
approach taken by the Victorian Government in preventing violence before it starts.

Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s Plan for Change (the Plan) recognised that individual and
structural power imbalances are at the centre of family violence. It acknowledged that to
address this, we need to create a society founded on inclusion and equity. It referenced
the Diversity and Intersectionality Framework, developed by the Diverse Communities
and Intersectionality Working Group, as the foundational guide to building an inclusive
and accessible family violence service system.

Ending family violence cannot be achieved without systemic change. This Statement provides
a pathway for system and organisational change to ensure that everyone has access to
appropriate services no matter who they are or where they turn to for help. It embeds an
intersectional approach as the new standard for a family violence service sector that is
inclusive and equitable. A service system where individuals can choose where they go to
receive a service and know that they will always receive the right service for their needs.
Such a service system must also be complemented by inclusive and responsive approaches
to primary prevention.

A set of definitions are utilised in this Statement to build a shared understanding across
government, the family violence service system, its workforces and across the community
about taking an intersectional approach to better support those who experience or who
use family violence. It identifies key frameworks that support an intersectional approach,
and strategic priorities that will realise our vision over the next ten years for an inclusive,
safe, responsive and accountable system. It provides a call to action to embrace our roles as
champions, challenge our current systems and strive for change that delivers choice for all.

7
AUDIENCE CONSULTATION
This Statement targets government PROCESS
as its key audience, particularly those This Statement is the culmination of a
departments and agencies with comprehensive consultation process
responsibilities for family violence undertaken by Family Safety Victoria that
and associated Royal Commission began in late 2017 and involved people
recommendations and reforms. It is also with lived experience of family violence,
for the broader family violence service practitioners, community leaders and
system and universal service providers government representatives. Consultation
that support people with lived experience will continue throughout the life of the
of family violence and perpetrators. Statement, particularly in the development
It is an important Statement for anyone of an Inclusion and Equity Blueprint that
with responsibility for policy development will outline the actions required, over three
or service planning, design and delivery stages, to achieve the long-term vision of
and will act as a guiding document for this ten-year Statement.
the Family Violence Reform Governance The development of the Statement was
groups, such as the Family Violence driven by the Diverse Communities and
Steering Committee, Diverse Communities Intersectionality Working Group to ensure
and Intersectionality Working Group, that the perspectives, experiences and
and the Industry Taskforce. expertise of diverse communities were
The Statement is unique in that it is the considered from the outset in the design
Victorian Government’s first attempt to and development of this Statement.
apply an intersectionality framework Comprehensive consultation across
across an entire reform agenda. Achieving government departments and agencies
its vision requires all relevant government was also undertaken from late 2017.
departments and sector partners to work This included consultation through the
together. The Statement will provide a Inclusion and Equity Family Violence Cross-
common understanding that will guide Government Working Group, which will
this work. continue to drive whole-of-government
work to achieve the shared vision of the
Statement. The development of each stage
of the Inclusion and Equity Blueprint will
also involve extensive consultation across
government and will highlight the ways
in which government departments can
work together to achieve an inclusive and
equitable family violence service system.

8 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
 The Commission identified the
BUILDING ON THE ROYAL following diverse community groups:
COMMISSION INTO
„„ culturally and linguistically diverse
FAMILY VIOLENCE communities
The Royal Commission recognised that „„ faith communities
for some groups in the community family
violence is less visible and less well „„ lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex
understood by service providers and and queer (LGBTIQ) communities
the broader community, and that their „„ people with a disability
experiences are not necessarily reflected
„„ people experiencing mental illness issues
in current frameworks. As a result, these
groups may be at greater risk of family „„ older people
violence, may experience it at higher
„„ women in or exiting prison or forensic
rates and/or face multiple and
institutions
intersecting barriers to reporting,
seeking and obtaining help. „„ people working in the sex industry

The Royal Commission acknowledged „„ rural, regional and remote communities

the ongoing impact of colonisation, „„ male victims
dispossession and discrimination on
„„ young people (12–25 years of age).
Aboriginal communities. It recognised
that the disproportionate impact of family Intersectionality recognises that people
violence within Aboriginal communities have many layers and possess multiple
reflects this traumatic history. characteristics that are interconnected or
intertwined. Intersectionality recognises
Victoria is diverse. Together, people from
that people can belong to more than one
the many diverse communities named in
of the diverse groups described by the
the Royal Commission’s report make up the
Royal Commission.
majority of Victoria’s population.
The Royal Commission called for more
accessible, inclusive and non-discriminatory
service provision and improved
understanding of how family violence
is experienced in diverse communities.
It also called for government to support
organisations to build primary prevention
expertise that responds to diverse
community needs.

9
10 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
2. LANGUAGE IN
THIS STATEMENT
The drivers of family violence are complex. Women are disproportionately affected by gender-
based violence, including family violence. The perpetrators of this violence are overwhelmingly
men. While gender inequality is the root cause of the violence against women, family violence
can, and does, occur within a range of relationships. It is characterised by a pattern of abusive
behaviour involving a perpetrator’s exercise of control and power over the victim.

Family violence can take many forms. It can occur within extended families, kinship networks,
intergenerational relationships and through family-like or carer relationships. Intimate
partners, family members and non-family carers can perpetrate violence against people they
are caring for. Young people can use violence or be victims of violence within their family.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or gender diverse, intersex

and queer (LGBTIQ) people may experience violence
in their relationships or from family members.

Elder abuse can be perpetrated by adult children of an

older person or non-family carers.

Women and girls from diverse cultural, linguistic and faith

backgrounds experience distinct forms of family violence
including migration-related abuse.

The disproportionate impact of family violence on Aboriginal

people is deeply rooted in the intergenerational impacts of
colonisation and violent dispossession of land and culture,
and the wrongful removal of children from their parents.
The disproportionate and compounding impact of family
violence on Aboriginal women and children also reflects
that family violence is deeply gendered in nature.

Children and young people are also victims of family

violence. Whether they experience violence directly, or
witness violence, the resulting trauma can affect their
emotional and psychological wellbeing. This in turn can
negatively impact upon their future outcomes.

11
At the centre of all instances of family can appear subtle or be invisible to members
violence are individual and structural power of the dominant group because it preferences
imbalances. To address this, we need to create their societal norms. Systemic bias and
a society based on inclusion and equity. discrimination creates barriers that prevent
marginalised individuals or groups from having
The Inclusion and Equity Statement responds
equal access to resources and services.
to the diversity of Victoria’s community.
As a social descriptor, our identity refers Access and equity are key objectives of the
to characteristics that have been socially Statement. Access is about ensuring that
constructed such as but not limited to sex, information, spaces, services and programs
gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, reach everyone and are responsive to
ethnicity, nationality, migration or visa status, everyone’s needs. Equity means that available
religion, age, ability (encompassing physical, information, spaces, services and programs
neurological, cognitive, sensory, intellectual should deliver outcomes that are equal for all.
or psychosocial impairment and/or disability) This requires that services are able to consider
and socioeconomic status. For us personally, and respond to the intersecting forms of
identity encompasses our sense of dignity, disadvantage and discrimination to truly
pride and self-worth. Some characteristics cater to all diverse needs.
are valued more highly than others within
Intersectionality describes how systems
different societies and cultures. The way we
and structures interact on multiple levels
understand our characteristics informs who
to oppress, create barriers and overlapping
we are and how we relate to others.
forms of discrimination, stigma and power
Most systems such as government, regulatory imbalances based on characteristics such as
bodies, health care and education systems Aboriginality, gender, sex, sexual orientation,
are constructed by the dominant groups in gender identity, ethnicity, colour, nationality,
society. These systems are developed around refugee or asylum seeker background,
societal norms that are also determined by migration or visa status, language, religion,
dominant groups and maintained through ability, age, mental health, socioeconomic
language, interactions, and the way we status, housing status, geographic location,
implement services. These systems control medical record or criminal record. This
who has access to resources. A system compounds the risk of experiencing family
constructed by dominant groups creates violence, and creates additional barriers
privilege for its members and can further for a person to access the help they need.
marginalise other groups, excluding them
A system that adopts inclusion as an
from equal access to resources and services.
active process recognises the impact of
Systemic marginalisation is the result of marginalisation, values diversity and works to
policies, processes, procedures and practices eliminate barriers. Adopting an active process
which operate in a manner that creates of inclusion creates welcoming environments
inequality by privileging the dominate group in which everyone can access services and
and reinforcing the exclusion of other groups. the services available are responsive to
Systemic bias and discrimination result when diverse needs. Adopting an active process of
the system creates processes that exclude inclusion means ensuring diversity of thinking,
some groups or individuals. Systemic bias experiences, and skills are valued and utilised.

12 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
An inclusive system is demonstrated by perpetrators, including family violence support
attitudes, behaviours, policies and practices services, men’s services, therapeutic services,
that enable full and equal participation for adolescent family violence services, and
everyone. It is achieved where programs, refuge and crisis accommodation providers.
services and funding are flexible and It also includes organisations that focus on
responsive to diversity and where diverse advocacy and/or capability building.
communities are empowered as active
Targeted services are those specialist family
participants at all levels of planning,
violence services with an expert knowledge
decision-making and delivery.
of a particular diverse community and the
Throughout this Statement, we refer to responses required to address the unique
the broader family violence system as needs and barriers faced by the group.
government departments and agencies Targeted services may also include community-
with family violence responsibilities, such as specific services, such as ethno-specific,
police and the Courts, and all family violence LGBTIQ and disability services that focus on
and child and family services working in primary prevention or early intervention.
prevention, early intervention and response.
Finally, universal services are those which are
The specialist family violence service system available to the whole of the population and
is the range of services which support people designed to support positive and connected
with lived experience of family violence and lives, such as schools and childcare centres.

n Government departments and agencies

Broader family n Police, Courts and the justice system
violence system n Child and family services

n Family violence support services

and counselling
Specialist family n Perpetrator services
violence service n Adolescent family violence services
n Refuge and crisis accommodation
system n Family violence advocacy and
capacity building

n Services that provide specialist family

Targeted violence support for targeted
community groups (such as LGBTIQ
services communities or culturally and
linguistically diverse communities)

13
14 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
3. WHY
INTERSECTIONALITY
AS A FRAMEWORK?
Taking an intersectional approach is at the heart of achieving greater inclusion and equity.
This is why intersectionality is the overarching framework that sits at the core of this Statement.

An Intersectionality Framework acknowledges the dynamics of power and social inequality in

our society. It recognises that:

„„ People have many layers and are characterised by multiple, complex social characteristics
that are interconnected or intertwined.

„„ Embedded within the multiple social characteristics are dimensions of perceived power
and/or inequality.

„„ The social characteristics are properties of the individual and of the social environment
or worlds in which individuals live. The characteristics and their significance are therefore
dynamic and may change.

Intersectionality helps us to understand how power differences can impact across multiple
social characteristics and environments in which they are experienced. Adopting an
intersectional framework approach:

„„ Enables the identification of barriers to safety and access to services that individuals
experience due to discrimination on the basis of Aboriginality, gender, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, ethnicity, colour, nationality, refugee or asylum seeker background, migration
or visa status, language, religion, ability, age, mental health, socioeconomic status, housing
status, geographic location, medical record or criminal record.

„„ Enables the service system to better understand and respond to the complexity and
spectrum of family violence experienced and perpetrated by people with a diverse range
of social characteristics.

„„ Works towards creating and sustaining a service system that is inclusive, safe, responsive
and accountable for all.

15
HOW INTERSECTIONALITY APPLIES
Intersectionality recognises that individual As a result, our experiences of privilege or
characteristics that inform our social discrimination are a result of our unique
identity do not exist independently of each positioning in society as determined by
other. Rather they often intersect to create these social classifiers.
complex forms of oppression as a result
Using intersectionality as an analytical
of systems and structures that devalue
framework means looking beyond a
certain population groups or people with
person’s individual identities and focusing
specific characteristics.
on the points of intersection created. These
Our social identities are based on groups intersections alter the way family violence
or communities we belong to and give us is experienced by individuals, and in many
a sense of who we are. They are multi- instances increase barriers to disclosure
dimensional because we can belong to and accessing the quality of services
different groups at the same time. Where they need. An intersectionality framework
we are socially located is defined by the can help us to consider a range of social
identities or groups we belong to. identities simultaneously. This enables us
to understand the way privilege, power and
Systems of oppression result when
oppression influence to include or exclude
structures in the way society operates,
and how they shape an individual’s sense
like service systems, create inequality and
of power, resilience and wellbeing.
result in exclusion. This happens because
such structures are often established by Intersectionality should be seen as a
dominant groups in society and usually do fundamental approach, embedded
not take into consideration how differences throughout the work of the broader
impact on all individuals. family violence system.

Social identities and systems of oppression

do not exist in isolation from each other.
They intersect and in service contexts can
lead to the simultaneous experience of
categorical and hierarchical classifications
including but not limited to gender,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
ethnicity, colour, nationality, refugee or
asylum seeker background, migration or
visa status, language, religion, ability, age,
mental health or socioeconomic status.

16 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
UNDERSTANDING INTERSECTIONALITY

Aboriginality
Medical
or criminal Gender
record
Geographic Sex
location

Ableism
Housing Sexual
m Ag
status
acis ei
s
orientation
R
m

Socioeconomic Gender
m

Stig

identity
Sexis

status
Social identities
ma

and systems
of oppression
io n
Homo

Mental health Ethnicity

intersect
in a t
pho

ri m
bi

sc
a

Age Colour
di

Bi
ph e
x

ob e rs
ia Int
Transphobia
Ability Nationality
Refugee or
asylum
Religion seeker
Migration
Language or background
visa status

17
THE CASE FOR CHANGE
Victoria’s community is characterised by
“Everybody – with their
our collective diversity, founded on the
unique characteristics
strength, knowledge and rich diversity
and attributes – needs to
of Aboriginal people, families and
be visible in the system”
communities as our First Nations Peoples,
with their varied languages, heritages Stakeholder forum participant
and histories.

Today, Victorians express multiple forms of

diversity, identity and belonging. Although
we know from a human rights perspective
that we are all equal, our unique differences “There was one counsellor who
as individuals can affect our experiences met me where I was, validated
in different settings and can interact on me and my experience,
multiple levels to create overlapping forms understood what it meant
of exclusion. This exclusion is a direct result to be LGBTIQ and that made
of the failures of systems and structures all the difference”
to adequately respond to our inherent and
unique differences. LGBTIQ Pathways Mapping Project
participant
Recognising the impacts of exclusion
and marginalisation enables us to
understand and remove systemic barriers
and structures that oppress and prevent
inclusion, such as institutional bias and
systemic racism and discrimination.

18 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
19
20 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
4. OUR VISION
An inclusive, safe, responsive and accountable system for
all Victorians

The Inclusion and Equity Statement supports the vision of Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s
Plan for Change. It offers the pathway for systemic change to end family violence for all
Victorians. It embeds an intersectional approach as the new standard of a service sector that
is inclusive and responsive for all and places the individual at the centre of practice.

It recognises that change needs to occur across the broader family violence service system
(including the legal and justice system, and child and family services) and the universal
service system, and is inclusive of services and organisations that undertake family violence
prevention and early intervention work.

Significant systemic change is necessary to create the conditions for an inclusive, safe,
responsive and accountable system that empowers and strengthens the resilience of people
and supports their individual choices.

21
 CALL FOR ACTION
The call to end family violence cannot
be achieved without systemic change.
It requires systems and organisational
accountability around ensuring everyone
has access to appropriate services no
matter who they are or where they turn
to for help. This can only be achieved by
examining our systems, practices and
processes and undertaking measurable
actions that remove identified barriers for
diverse communities.

The Statement calls for action across four

key domains. It recognises our vision is
within our grasp if we embrace our roles
as champions, challenge our current
systems and strive for change that
delivers choice for all.

22 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
Champions are communities, people with
lived experience of family violence and
their support networks, service system “The onus needs to be on the
stakeholders and government, recognising service system to change its
that individuals will often represent many views and processes, rather
of these at once. than saying that the person’s
identity and personal attributes
Champions challenge current systems,
is challenging for the system”.
organisational cultures, thinking and
attitudes around the way we plan, how we Stakeholder forum participant
engage and how we deliver systems and
services striving towards inclusion and
equity for all.

Champions change systems, organisations

and communities by adapting,
transforming and embedding policies,
practices and standards informed by
intersectionality to ensure inclusion
and equity.

Champions who challenge and change

systems enable choice for individuals
between the specialist family violence
services or targeted services. As a result,
prevention, early intervention and
response initiatives are inclusive
and deliver equity for all.

An inclusive,
safe, responsive
Champions Challenge Change Choice and accountable
system for all
Victorians

23
24 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
5. SUPPORTING
FRAMEWORKS
In addition to the primary framework of intersectionality that sits at the heart of Everybody
Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement, a number of supporting frameworks and principles
must also be embedded to achieve an inclusive, safe, responsive and accountable system.

A human rights framework must be at the heart of everything we do, because family violence
is a significant violation of human rights. The way we respond to individuals and families
must be strengths-based and trauma-informed to respond to the impacts of trauma, and
must recognise and respect the strengths of an individual. It also must be person-centred
to support the person within their unique context to exercise their rights, choices and
preferences. Embedding cultural safety must be a paramount responsibility for all services.

Intersectionality

Supporting frameworks

Human rights Strengths- Trauma- Cultural safety Person-centred

based informed

25
 The key principles of the Charter are that:
HUMAN RIGHTS
„„ human rights are essential in a
Human rights are universal, indivisible and
democratic and inclusive society that
an expression of our shared humanity.
respects the rule of law, human dignity,
They apply to everyone equally.
equality and freedom;
The Royal Commission into Family Violence
„„ human rights belong to all people
acknowledged that family violence is an
without discrimination, and the diversity
abuse of human rights, and responses to it
of the people of Victoria enhances our
must be consistent with human rights.1 The
community;
prevention of and appropriate responses
to family violence, are therefore an active „„ human rights come with responsibilities
protection of human rights. and must be exercised in a way that
respects the human rights of others;
Human rights, in practice, acknowledges
human diversity, equality and non- „„ human rights have special importance
discrimination and gives individuals a for Aboriginal people of Victoria, with
framework for advocacy, community their diverse spiritual, social, cultural
development work and direct service and economic relationship with their
delivery across primary prevention, early traditional lands and waters.
intervention and response. Human rights
are above politics and ideology so they are
a useful tool in arguing for change. Human
rights means that individuals, whether they “Everyone’s human rights
are accessing or providing services, respect should be upheld and everyone
the dignity and worth of every person and should have choice and access.
respect the human rights expressed in the Nobody should experience
United Nations Universal Declaration of
discrimination because they
Human Rights and in Victoria’s Charter of
don’t speak English or
Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
because they look different”
(the Charter).
Diverse Communities
and Intersectionality
Working Group member

1 State of Victoria, Royal Commission into Family Violence: Report and Recommendations, Vol V, Parl Paper No 132 (2014-16), p.2.

26 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
 For Aboriginal Victorians as First Nations
STRENGTHS-BASED Peoples, the devastating impacts of
A strengths-based framework recognises colonisation and the dispossession
and respects the strengths of an individual of land and children has resulted in
and the knowledge gained through lived an accumulation of intergenerational
experience. It works to identify the diverse trauma. Many people from migrant and
strengths that individuals and communities refugee backgrounds have traumatic
bring to a situation, and works in experiences of dispossession, persecution
collaboration to foster these strengths and and marginalisation. When cumulative
build upon them to address challenges. intergenerational trauma is untreated,
Organisations that operate within a individuals do not receive the holistic
strengths-based framework demonstrate healing they require to heal.
a deep belief in the capacity of all to A trauma-informed service system
participate in the decisions and actions demonstrates an understanding of how
that define their life. Workers who operate trauma impacts the life of an individual who
within a strengths-based framework is seeking services – whether as a person
have developed a critical stance towards with lived experience of family violence
assumed ways of understanding the or a perpetrator. It is strengths-based
world, including their own assumptions. and responds to the impact of trauma
They understand that concepts used to emphasising the physical and emotional
understand the world are culturally and safety of the individual, while rebuilding
historically specific. They never assume that a sense of control and empowerment. A
their ways of understanding are necessarily trauma-informed service system recognises
the same as others’ and never assume they the risk of vicarious trauma and burnout
are an expert on someone else’s life. for workers and minimises this risk by
encouraging self-care and providing worker
TRAUMA-INFORMED support systems.

Family violence is a form of complex

trauma. It is interpersonal and experienced CULTURAL SAFETY
in what should be a caring relationship. Government and all family violence services
Trauma-informed practice is grounded in have a responsibility to deliver services that
an understanding of, and responsiveness are culturally safe, culturally responsive
to, the impacts of trauma. It emphasises and free of racism. It is imperative that
physical, psychological and emotional services are provided in a manner that is
safety for both service providers and respectful of a person’s cultural identity
individuals, and creates opportunities for and beliefs, and that supports are free
individuals to rebuild a sense of control from discrimination or prejudices. Cultural
and empowerment. strengths must be supported as part of the
healing journey.
27
 CULTURAL SAFETY FOR
ABORIGINAL PEOPLE
Cultural safety for Aboriginal people is an
environment ‘where there is no assault,
challenge or denial of their identity,
of who they are and what they need’.2

A culturally safe and responsive family

violence system for Aboriginal people
is one in which government and service
providers take responsibility to understand
the importance of culture, Country and
community to support Aboriginal health,
wellbeing and safety. This can be achieved
by government and services analysing their
own organisational culture, and working
with Aboriginal communities to design
and deliver culturally responsive services.3

2 Williams, R. (2008), Cultural safety; what does it mean

for our work practice? Australian and New Zealand
Journal of Public Health, 23(2):213–214.
3 Korin Korin Balit-Djak: Aboriginal health, wellbeing
and safety strategic plan 2017–2027, p.45.

28 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
PERSON-CENTRED
A person-centred approach focuses on the
needs, preferences and knowledge of each
person. It supports the individual within
their unique situation to exercise their
rights as experts on their own lives. Services
must be flexible and treat each person with
dignity and respect in empowering them to
make their own informed choices that are
free from external judgement.

A person-centred approach respects each

person’s choices and involves listening,
coaching, sharing ideas and seeking
feedback. Applying this approach to service
development and service delivery sees
services provided in a manner that respects
the individual’s choices, and addresses
the issues that places them at risk of
family violence.

29
30 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
6. STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES
Family Safety Victoria consultations and background research have led to the following
priorities to build and advance greater systems of inclusion, accessibility and choice.

These strategic priorities articulate the ten-year strategy, vision and long-term partnership
between government, the service system and organisations, and the directions required to
change the way we work together.

The strategic priorities require a commitment to innovation, collaboration and placing the
voices of individuals and communities at the centre of our work. They address the gaps that
have been identified in achieving a system that is inclusive and responds to all people. They
shift the responsibility for inclusion from the individual to government and the service sector,
so that people with lived experience of family violence will no longer carry the burden of
securing their own safety, and to change the way the service sector works with perpetrators
to support their behaviour change and accountability.

Upholding the right of all individuals to live free from violence is an unconditional and
collective responsibility of government, the service sector and communities, and an individual
responsibility of workers in the service system. To achieve this, intersectionality must be
embedded at all levels and inform the way we undertake our work.

The strategic priorities of the Statement are the foundation of workforces, structures and
systems that place the individual at the centre, and ensure that everyone has access to the
same level of services no matter who they are or where they go to access support.

Across the lifespan of this Statement, Family Safety Victoria will continue to engage and
consult across government, the sector and communities to understand the best way to
implement these priorities.

31
PRIORITY 1: BUILDING KNOWLEDGE
Building knowledge focuses on research Building knowledge across family violence
and data collection to fill gaps in current prevention, early intervention and response
knowledge. Understanding the unique will require:
experiences of people who access the
„„ Ensuring that research and data
service system from early intervention
collection is informed by an
to response, will be vital in measuring
intersectionality framework
effectiveness, impact and informing
ongoing innovation. It will enable us to „„ Working in collaboration across the
direct resources to the responses that service system to create appropriate
make a difference in achieving access research models and effective measures
and inclusion for all. of success to ensure data reflects
intersectional needs
WHAT WE KNOW „„ Documenting and aligning good
There remains a significant gap in research practice with data collection systems
and data collection around access, „„ Documenting intersectionality in
inclusion and responsiveness to diverse practice to demonstrate ‘how to’ in an
communities within the service system. inclusive and responsive system
We cannot effectively build capability
without developing our knowledge of the „„ Documenting engagement,
barriers to people accessing services, collaboration and co-design in practice
and the experiences people have when to support knowledge building and
seeking help. We also know that there sharing across the sector
is good work taking place in the service „„ A commitment to co-design processes
sector that is contributing to inclusion and that ensure equal power distribution
responsiveness. However, documenting and levels of contribution
this as an evidence base remains a gap.
„„ Undertaking research that improves our
understanding around the diversity of
lived experience

„„ Influencing and building the capacity

of current research agendas to
reflect intersectional experiences
and strengthen access, inclusion
and responsiveness

32 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
„„ Collecting base line data that improves
WHAT WILL SUCCESS
knowledge of existing responsiveness
and identifies gaps
LOOK LIKE?
„„ The voices of people with lived
„„ Collecting person-centred data that
experience are heard and inform the
improves knowledge of barriers to
way the service sector works.
seeking help and current experiences
when people seek help „„ The service system is integrated and
joined up to respond holistically to the
„„ Conducting research on the
diverse needs of service users.
commonality of causes of family
violence and what leads to family „„ Mutual learning and reflective practice
violence in different contexts are enduring features of service system
cultures.
„„ Improved mechanisms for
organisational feedback of data to „„ We have a greater understanding of who
government that reflect the complexities is accessing and using services in the
of intersectionality system, and who is missing out and why.

„„ Embedding appropriate research

and evaluation processes as part
of organisational practice.

WHAT WE HEARD IS NEEDED

„„ Investment in research that documents
people’s lived and diverse experiences
of family violence to address knowledge
gaps and inform systems change.

„„ Establishing pathways that develop

an evidence base of intersectional
practice to enable shared learning “Everyone should have access
and contribute to strengthening to the same level and quality of
inclusive practice. services, no matter who they are
„„ Prioritising research that addresses and where they go to get help”
knowledge gaps around inclusion and Diverse Communities and
strategic responses that reduce risk Intersectionality Working
of marginalisation. Group member
„„ Establishing communities of practice to
share approaches around collaboration,
co-design and intersectionality in practice.

33
PRIORITY 2: BUILDING CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY
A focused effort is needed to acknowledge Building from Strength: 10-Year Industry
that the onus is on the service system to Plan for Family Violence Prevention and
change its processes and practices to Response (Building from Strength), which
achieve access and equity. This will shift was launched in December 2017, sets out
the service system culture from one that the long-term vision for a workforce that is
perceives individual identity as the barrier collaborative, valued, skilled and diverse.
to one where anyone, anywhere can Developed in consultation with a range of
access an appropriate service response. stakeholders, including those from diverse
communities, Building from Strength aims
Building capacity at an organisational
to sustainably shift the way we prevent and
level and building workforce capability
respond to family violence.
across the broader family violence system,
including in government, specialist family A key focus of Building from Strength is
violence, and universal services is vital to ensuring that the specialist family violence
achieving the vision of an inclusive, safe, system is inclusive and accessible to
responsive and accountable system everyone. It aims to do this by increasing
for all Victorians. the diversity of the specialist family violence
and primary prevention workforces, to
better reflect the rich diversity of the
Victorian community. It also aims to ensure
that all workers and organisations in the
specialist sectors understand diversity and
intersectionality and are able to provide
inclusive and equitable services.
“Building the capacity of Structural change will involve the adoption
all services to understand of practices that reflect engagement,
intersectionality and how to collaboration and co-design so that
apply it in practice, will enable community voices inform enhanced
better responses and support responses that are accessible, inclusive and
for everyone and eliminate non-discriminatory. This structural change
the need to refer people will also result in a workforce that reflects
on to another service” the diversity of the Victorian community.

Stakeholder participant

34 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
WHAT WE KNOW
Targeted efforts in Victoria’s response to
family violence continue to transform and
improve the way we work in vital ways,
but there remain ongoing challenges in
ensuring inclusion for all.

Whole-of-organisation change
of systems and culture
Access for all means there is no wrong
door for anyone who seeks support. To
achieve this we need greater flexibility
in systems, revisiting what does not work
and innovating in collaboration with our
communities. Transforming organisational
capabilities requires:

„„ an intersectional approach
and inclusive processes embedded
at all organisational levels

„„ listening to the experiences of those

who have been adversely impacted
by the system

„„ utilising settings where communities

are already engaged to involve them
in service design

„„ a shared language and understanding

„„ service system collaboration

„„ systems responsiveness by continuously

measuring the impact of our work
and undertaking ongoing improvement
to advance practice

„„ a workforce that reflects our community

and contributes to inclusion.

35
 Building workforce capacity
To provide services that are accessible
and inclusive there must be an effective,
well supported and multidisciplinary
workforce that reflects the diversity
of the Victorian community.

Enhancing workforce capacity to support

capability building requires:

„„ skills development that embeds

intersectionality in practice

„„ a commitment to continuous learning,

self-reflection and reflective practice

„„ an ability to engage, collaborate,

respect and support self-determination

„„ flexibility and accountability.

Stakeholders recognised the need for

ongoing investment in workforce training
and resources and a systematic approach
to workforce planning and development.
Stakeholders highlighted the importance
of a strengths-based approach that
harnesses existing and invaluable
workforce knowledge in transforming
the way we work to achieve innovation
and systems responsiveness.

36 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
WHAT WE HEARD IS NEEDED WHAT WILL SUCCESS
„„ Adopting a whole-of-organisational LOOK LIKE?
approach to embedding an „„ The workforce effectively understands
intersectionality framework across need and is skilled in responding to all
government and the broader family service users.
violence service system.
„„ Service system responses are person-
„„ Investing in capability development centred and available at the right
through training, professional place at the right time. Service users
development and resources that build participate in the decisions and actions
capacity across the broader system, and that define their world.
build the capability of the workforce to
„„ Service systems ensure everyone has
apply an intersectional approach, and to
access to the same level of service no
support the application of the Statement
matter who they are or where they turn
in policy and practice.
to for help.
„„ Building on policy and practice
„„ All service users trust the system.
that works towards achieving a
multidisciplinary workforce that
reflects the diversity of the community.

„„ Improving collective capacity through

community co-design, service
collaboration and innovation.

„„ Investing in monitoring and evaluation

that measures systems responsiveness,
flexibility, impact and accountability
around inclusion.

37
PRIORITY 3: STRENGTHENING TARGETED SERVICES
Our aim is to shift the service system equipped to apply an intersectionality
culture from one that perceives individual framework to respond to the diverse
identity as the barrier to one that offers needs of all Victorians.
choice to all. This does not erase the need
An intersectional approach to practice
for targeted services. They contribute
is core business for all. The availability
to a holistic and contextual approach in
of targeted services should not result in
systems responses.
reduced access to the broader service
Whether they are stand alone or integrated system or replace the responsibility of
within family violence services, targeted the service system to respond to different
services complement and build the needs. Similarly, an intersectional approach
capacity of the service system to achieve will be fostered within targeted services
inclusion. Their complex, nuanced and to continue to improve responses to the
tailored work across the spectrum of layered experiences of individuals from
family violence – primary prevention, early diverse groups.
intervention and response – is critical in
An inclusive and equitable system is where
offering choice without fear
universal, specialist and targeted services
of discrimination.
complement and work in partnership
with each other. Capability building of
WHAT WE KNOW the broader service system requires
Targeted services are critical to an inclusive engagement, collaboration and respect
system. They offer choice for service users for the specialist knowledge of targeted
and safe environments. They contribute services. No one service can do everything
a unique skill set and support generalist alone. Working together, mutual learning
services with complex cases. In the current and sector wide accountability are
system, they can also often be the necessary for a holistic system that ensures
only choice for the most vulnerable in inclusion and equity.
our community.

Strengthening targeted services does not

WHAT WE HEARD IS NEEDED
remove responsibility from the broader „„ Supporting and strengthening targeted
family violence service sector to provide responses to ensure choice as a
inclusive and responsive services. A genuine prominent feature in an inclusive
commitment to Ending Family Violence: and equitable service system.
Victoria’s Plan for Change demands that
all family violence service providers are

38 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
„„ Building pathways that enhance „„ The strengths, preferences, decisions
collaboration, referral, secondary and knowledge of each person is
consultation and mutual learning respected and at the centre of the
between targeted services and the response and service they receive.
broader family violence service system.
„„ Individuals have genuine choice to
„„ Developing pathways for improved access mainstream services or targeted
collaboration and establishment of services that are culturally safe and
community of practice between targeted which embed an intersectionality
services to strengthen and improve framework.
intersectional practice.
„„ There are no consequential barriers to
safety, such as discrimination or stigma,
WHAT WILL SUCCESS experienced by individuals as a result of
LOOK LIKE? their diversity.
„„ The service system understands „„ Targeted services and the broader
and responds to the complexity family violence service system work
and the spectrum of lived experience together to ensure that supports are
in diverse communities. person-centred and responsive to
individuals’ diverse needs.

39
7. NEXT STEPS
Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement outlines the ten-year vision, direction
and strategic priorities required to ensure that family violence and universal services
achieve the vision of an inclusive, safe, responsive and accountable system for all Victorians.

DEVELOPING A BLUEPRINT
The next step is to develop an Inclusion and Equity Blueprint, over three stages, that will
identify the actions required to achieve the long-term vision outlined in this Statement.
Each stage of the Blueprint will be developed in collaboration with relevant government
departments and agencies, communities and the service sector.

The first stage of the Inclusion and Equity Blueprint will identify actions for 2019–2022 and will
be released in the first half of 2019. It will contain the specific actions, initiatives and funding
investments that will be taken in the first three years to bring the strategic priorities of
Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement to life, and outline who is responsible for
delivering them. It will also serve to identify existing and potential areas for collaboration and
coordination of effort. The further two stages of the Inclusion and Equity Blueprint will cover
2022–2025 and 2025–2029.

A monitoring and evaluation framework that aligns with the Family Violence Outcomes
Framework will be developed and overseen by the Diverse Communities and Intersectionality
Working Group to track progress against this Statement and the subsequent Inclusion and
Equity Action Blueprints.

41
IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES TO EMBED AN
INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH
Extensive family violence and social service violence, including through the formation
reform work is already happening across the of partnerships with targeted services.
Victorian Government, to build an inclusive, It is intended that this work will build the
safe, responsive and accountable system capacity of workforces to better understand,
for all – led by Family Safety Victoria, the recognise and respond to the intersectional
Department of Health and Human Services, needs of all people they support.
the Department of Justice and Community
Safety, Victorian Courts, Victoria Police, the THE ORANGE DOOR
Department of Education and Training and
Family Safety Victoria will also develop an
the Department of Premier and Cabinet. This
Inclusion Action Plan for the 17 Orange Door
section outlines a sample of the work that is
Support and Safety Hub sites commencing
currently underway, with a particular focus
with the five Orange Door sites that became
on the work led by Family Safety Victoria.
operational in 2018 in the Barwon, Bayside
The immediate priorities will be Peninsula, Inner Gippsland, Mallee and
implemented by the relevant departments, North East Melbourne areas. A further three
with progress overseen by the Inclusion and Orange Door sites will become operational
Equity Family Violence Cross Government by the end of 2019 in the Central Highlands,
Working Group. Loddon and Goulburn regions. The Orange
Door has been designed to meet the needs
INTERSECTIONALITY of people from diverse backgrounds and be
accessible to all. The Orange Door will use an
CAPACITY BUILDING
intersectional approach that recognises that
PROJECT a person’s identity will affect the way they
As an immediate priority, Family Safety experience family violence or issues with the
Victoria commenced work in the second care, development and wellbeing of children,
half of 2018 on the development of the how willing they are to report it or to seek
Intersectionality Capacity Building Project help and finally, what kind of support they
for family violence and universal services require from The Orange Door.
workforces. This work will seek to build Working alongside the Orange Door Network,
organisational capacity and workforce Aboriginal Access Points will be established
capability to equip specialist family to provide culturally safe and appropriate
violence services and universal services support services and deliver choice to
to recognise and provide appropriate, Aboriginal Victorians. The access points will
inclusive and responsive services for all provide Aboriginal people with a familiar
people with lived experience of family and safe place, staffed by a predominantly
Aboriginal workforce.

42 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
The Orange Door workforce has a strong „„ Developing an Aboriginal Family Violence
understanding of family violence and Industry Strategy to build the capacity
the complexities and barriers typically and capability of Aboriginal family
experienced by people from diverse violence services, organisations and the
communities. The Inclusion Action Plan will sector to meet future service needs
support workers to further enhance their
„„ Scoping a workforce inclusion strategy
understanding and build their capacity to
for the specialist family violence sector.
respond to diverse community members,
by applying an intersectional lens. Building from Strength’s first Rolling Action
Plan is due for release in 2019. It shares an
THE FAMILY VIOLENCE area of focus with this Statement and the
two documents will align and complement
WORKFORCE
each other, and collectively work to ensure
In addition, Building from Strength outlined our broader family violence system,
a number of immediate priorities for the specialist family violence and targeted
family violence workforce, including: services are equipped to deliver the inclusive
„„ Building a workforce of skilled and and equitable services and initiatives that
supported specialist family violence we require.
interpreters and translators
„„ Mapping the intersectional training
FAMILY VIOLENCE RISK
landscape, and developing diversity ASSESSMENT AND RISK
and intersectionality training and MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
organisational capacity building initiatives
The redeveloped Family Violence Risk
„„ Building prevention capacity in areas Assessment and Risk Management
of intersectional need by continuing to Framework, which commenced in September
support the disability sector through 2018, aims to embed intersectionality in
funding for the Gender and Disability all risk assessment tools and operational
Workforce Development Program practice guidance. The suite of family
„„ Building prevention capacity in areas of violence risk identification, screening and
intersectional need including within the assessment tools under the framework
LGBTIQ, seniors and Aboriginal sectors will include questions specifically relating
to risks for diverse communities. Further,
„„ Ensuring approaches to minimum
training on the redeveloped framework will
qualifications for specialist family violence
emphasise the gendered and intersectional
workers including accessible pathways
nature of family violence, contributing to a
for workers who bring valuable cultural
strengthened understanding of the specific
knowledge and experience, or lived
experiences of people from diverse groups.
experience (e.g. of disability, migrant or
refugee experience of family violence) and
experience barriers to tertiary education
43
IMPROVING DATA In accordance with Aboriginal
self-determination, this work will be
COLLECTION Aboriginal-led and overseen by the
A further immediate priority for the Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum as the
Victorian Government is reforming the way primary family violence governance
we use and collect family violence data, group for Aboriginal communities.
specifically for Aboriginal communities and
diverse communities. This will help to build DESIGNING FOR DIVERSITY
a comprehensive evidence base and to FRAMEWORK AND
inform policy reform and service delivery.
This will be driven by the Family Violence
RESOURCES
Outcomes Framework and current work to Family Safety Victoria will work with the
define indicators and measures that will Department of Health and Human Services
show us the impact our reforms are having (DHHS) in 2019 to tailor its Designing for
in the community. As recommended by the Diversity approach to progress each stage
Royal Commission into Family Violence, the of the Blueprint under this Statement.
Crime Statistics Agency has been leading
Designing for Diversity is the DHHS
work to review the quality of family violence
framework for embedding responsiveness
data collection for Aboriginal communities
to diversity at the outset of policy reform
and diverse communities and to move
and service design processes. The approach
towards a standardised and comprehensive
provides guidance for addressing the
approach for collecting data.
many barriers facing diverse communities,
and further reinforces the importance of
DHELK DJA: SAFE OUR WAY –
accounting for the diversity within those
STRONG CULTURE, STRONG communities, highlighting the need to
PEOPLES, STRONG FAMILIES address issues arising from overlapping
THE NEW ABORIGINAL 10 forms of disadvantage and discrimination.
YEAR FAMILY VIOLENCE This will provide the building blocks
AGREEMENT 2018-2028 and enhance the capability of Family
Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Safety Victoria staff – who are leading
Strong Peoples, Strong Families was the implementation of a number of key
released in October 2018. The subsequent government reforms including the Family
Dhelk Dja Action Plans will embed initiatives Violence Risk Assessment and Risk
that will strengthen the understanding Management Framework and the rollout
of intersectionality and its application in of the Orange Door sites – to effectively
practice across Aboriginal communities embed an intersectionality framework
and services. across all aspects of family violence
policy and service design.

44 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
IMPLEMENTATION OF FREE In addition, the Office for Women will
also trial initiatives that recognise
FROM VIOLENCE: VICTORIA’S intersectionality as a key factor in shaping
STRATEGY TO PREVENT the ways in which people experience
FAMILY VIOLENCE AND inequality, disadvantage and violence.
ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE An example, from a primary prevention
AGAINST WOMEN perspective, is the Achieving Gender
Equality through Attitudinal Change in
The Office for Women in the Department Media and Reporting Project. The project
of Premier and Cabinet has prioritised includes the development of a media
delivering on the commitments of the and reporting guideline for journalists
First Action Plan 2018–2021 of Free from to support reporting on violence against
Violence: Victoria’s strategy to prevent women and their children. The guideline
family violence and all forms of violence will adopt an intersectional lens to support
against women (Action Plan). Released in reporting relating to family violence
January 2018, the Action Plan focuses on involving Aboriginal communities, LGBTIQ
five key priority areas to deliver on primary communities, culturally and linguistically
prevention objectives including: diverse women, older women, and women
„„ building prevention structures with a disability. A capacity building strategy
and systems to support the use of the reporting guideline
within Victoria will also be developed.
„„ research and evaluation to build
knowledge
INTEGRATED MODEL OF
„„ innovation to trial and evaluate CARE FOR RESPONDING TO
new techniques
SUSPECTED ELDER ABUSE
„„ scaling up and building on proven
The Department of Health and Human
prevention projects
Services and Family Safety Victoria is
„„ engagement with the community continuing work on the Integrated model
and building prevention structures of care for responding to suspected
and systems. elder abuse. Based on a person-centred
framework, the model aims to strengthen
The Action Plan focuses on diverse
elder abuse responses and support within
communities through programs such as
Victorian health and community services
the Aboriginal Free from Violence Fund,
by creating multiple entry points for older
pilots to prevent violence among migrant
people, their carers and families to access
and refugee communities, commissioning
specialist support services to address
research on family violence impacting
suspected elder abuse.
LGBTIQ communities, support for elder abuse
prevention networks, and cohort specific
approaches to behaviour change campaigns.
45
The integrated model, which is currently best practice in perpetrator interventions.
being trialled in five health settings across This will deliver funding to programs
Victoria, consists of four key components: that target women and gender diverse
perpetrators, male perpetrators with complex
„„ workforce development to enable capacity
needs, perpetrators that are fathers and
building so that services can respond
Aboriginal men that choose to use violence.
to elder abuse and develop appropriate
pathways of care
ENHANCING SAFETY: FAMILY
„„ the development of inter-agency protocols
to respond to elder abuse
VIOLENCE STRATEGY FOR
THE VICTORIAN CORRECTIONS
„„ an Elder Abuse Prevention and Response
Liaison Officer located in each of the five
SYSTEM 2018–2021
trial sites to provide specialist clinical Enhancing Safety recognises that perpetrators
advice and consultancy for complex and people with lived experience of family
discharge planning in relation to older violence are over-represented among prisoners
people at risk of or experiencing elder and offenders, and that Corrections Victoria
abuse, including secondary consultation has a unique role in supporting people with
to services requiring advice or lived experience of family violence and holding
referral support perpetrators to account for their behaviour.

„„ counselling and mediation services The strategy recognises the inherent

to provide therapeutic options as complexity and challenge of family violence
an alternative to the legal pathway among Aboriginal prisoners and offenders,
where appropriate; and an elder abuse including that perpetrators also often have
prevention network to raise awareness a lived experience of family violence. It also
and address the drivers of elder abuse recognises the different experiences of family
in local communities. violence for culturally and linguistically diverse
communities, and reaffirms Corrections
An evaluation of the effectiveness
Victoria’s commitment to considering the needs
of the integrated model in responding
of prisoners and offenders from culturally
to suspected elder abuse is scheduled
and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
for completion in June 2019.
Enhancing Safety also promotes and supports
INNOVATION IN PERPETRATOR the delivery of the following objectives:
INTERVENTIONS „„ identifying perpetrators; delivering targeted
family violence programs and services; and
The Department of Justice and Community
supporting prisoners and offenders who
Safety’s Family Violence Perpetrator
are victims of family violence
Intervention Grants initiative is providing
$1.75 million across five projects to pilot and „„ creating an environment for cultural
evaluate innovative and emerging models of change, and
„„ working with other service systems.
46 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
APPENDIX
POLICY CONTEXT
The focus on enhancing the broader family
ENDING FAMILY violence system as well as building targeted
VIOLENCE: VICTORIA’S services is reflected in the vision and the
PLAN FOR CHANGE priorities of this Statement.

The Victorian Government’s 10 year Plan

commits to meeting the needs of all
DHELK DJA: SAFE OUR
Victorians by designing for diversity and WAY – STRONG CULTURE,
intersectionality at the outset. It aims STRONG PEOPLES,
to do this by creating and sustaining a
family violence and social services system
STRONG FAMILIES
that is inclusive, non-discriminatory and (2018–2028)
accessible for everyone from primary
The Inclusion and Equity Statement
prevention to crisis response and recovery.
recognises Aboriginal self-determination
The Plan recognises that due to individual as a fundamental right. Aboriginal self-
and structural power imbalances that determination is the foundation of the
exist within society, difference from the new Aboriginal 10 Year Family Violence
dominant group can result in a person Agreement 2018–2028.
experiencing overlapping forms of
The Statement explicitly foregrounds
inequality, discrimination and stigma.
Aboriginal knowledge of family violence
This can compound power imbalance
and aligns with the approach taken in the
and exacerbate the risk or experience
Dhelk Dja Agreement, led by the Dhelk Dja
of family violence and amplify barriers
Partnership Forum.
to reporting, accessing and receiving
appropriate services. In a family violence context, Aboriginal
self-determination is a systemic shift of
The Plan commits to:
power and control from government and the
„„ strengthening the broader family non-Aboriginal service sector to Aboriginal
violence system to better understand communities and their organisations.
and respond to the complexity and the It involves investing in Aboriginal self-
spectrum of family violence experienced determining structures to lead governance,
in diverse communities implementation, monitoring and evaluation
of family violence reforms. These include but
„„ targeted prevention initiatives and
are not limited to the Dhelk Dja Partnership
capacity building to address the
Forum, the Dhelk Dja Action Groups (formerly
drivers of family violence within
Indigenous Family Violence Regional Action
diverse communities, and
Groups) and Aboriginal services.
„„ strengthening targeted services
specifically designed to meet the
needs of diverse community groups.

47
Further, embedding self-determination will
require government to transfer decision
CONNECTIONS WITH
making for policy development and OTHER REFORMS,
program design to Aboriginal communities STRATEGIES AND
and their organisations, including through
prioritising funding to those communities
LEGISLATION
and organisations and through investment This Statement provides an opportunity
in community sustainability, resourcing and for two-way learning between government
capacity building to meet the requirements departments on embedding an
of the new reforms. intersectionality framework across family
violence and social service reforms,
Growing and supporting the skills and
strategies and supporting legislation.
knowledge base of the Aboriginal workforce
and sector is also a critical element to In addition to Ending Family Violence:
support self-determination. Victoria’s Plan for Change and Dhelk Dja:
Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong
Ensuring that government and the family
Peoples, Strong Families, the Statement
violence service system is culturally safe,
connects with and complements family
transparent and accountable will result
violence and social service reform work
in people from Aboriginal communities
across the Victorian Government. This
having genuine choice of service between
includes, but is not limited to, work being
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal services,
undertaken across the Department
which has been identified as a priority.
of Health and Human Services, the
Department of Justice and Community
Safety, Victorian Courts, Victoria Police, the
Department of Education and Training and
the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The Statement is strategically aligned with:

„„ Building from Strength: 10 Year Industry

Plan for Family Violence Prevention
and Response

„„ Free from Violence: Victoria’s strategy

to prevent family violence and all
forms of violence against women

„„ Roadmap for Reform: strong families,

safe children

48 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
The Statement also aligns with other In addition, the Statement complements the
social and human services strategies and following Australian Government strategies
legislation that target specific or multiple and legislation:
diverse groups. This includes:
„„ National Plan to Reduce Violence against
„„ Korin Korin Balit-Djak: Aboriginal Women and Their Children 2010–2022
health, wellbeing and safety strategic
„„ National Disability Strategy 2010–2020
plan 2017–2027
„„ Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual
„„ Wungurilwil Gapgapduir: Aboriginal
Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex
Children and Families Agreement
Status) Act 2013
„„ Safe and Strong: Victorian Gender
Equality Strategy

„„ Victorian. And proud of it – Victoria’s

Multicultural Policy Statement 2017

„„ Absolutely everyone: Victorian state

disability plan 2017–20

„„ Multicultural Victoria Act 2011 (Vic)

„„ Racial and Religious Tolerance Act

2001 (Vic)

„„ Guideline: Family violence services

and accommodation > Complying with
the Equal Opportunity Act 2010

49
 YOUNG PEOPLE
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES 31.3% of Victoria’s
population is aged
24 and under.5
From July 2016 – June 2017,
10.2% of victims in Victoria

X45
Victorian Aboriginal
Police family violence
incidents were young
people (17 or younger).6

0.8% of the women are

Victorian population 45 times more
identified as likely to experience
Aboriginal or Torres family violence and,
Strait Islander in where violence PEOPLE WHO WORK
the 2016 Census.1 occurs, 25 times IN THE SEX INDUSTRY
more likely to be It is estimated
killed or injured than that there are
non-Aboriginal up to 20,000 people
women.2 working as sex workers in
Australia in any one year.7

55% of Victorian based

Project Respect’s clients who
CULTURALLY AND were sex workers between
LINGUISTICALLY 2011–12 had experienced
DIVERSE family violence.8
COMMUNITIES
22% of the Victorian
population were
born in non-main
English-speaking
FAITH
countries.3 COMMUNITIES

Women’s Health West Inc. reports that in

2013–14, 47% of women who received case 59% of Victorians
management support identified themselves follow more than
as coming from a culturally and/or
130 different faiths.9
linguistically diverse background and 44% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
of residents in their crisis accommodation 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
service did not speak English as their first 47 48 49 50 51 52 52 54 55 56 57 58 59
60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72
language and required an interpreter to 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
communicate.4 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109
110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130

50 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
 OLDER PEOPLE
LGBTIQ
COMMUNITIES
Same-sex couples made up
15.6% of the Victorian 1% of all Victorian couples
population are aged counted in the 2016 Census.16
over 65 years.10
The World Health Organisation
esitmates up to 14% of older
people in high and middle
income countries may be
experiencing elder abuse.11 A 2014 NSW report Calling it what it
really is found that:
 34.8% of all LGBTIQ participants reported
PEOPLE WITH that they had been abused sexually or
DISABILITIES physically by a previous partner
Almost one in five  Rates of sexual and physical abuse were
Victorians (18.4%) higher (52.5%) for trans and gender
have a disability.12 diverse and intersex participants
 Only 12.9% made a report to the police
In the 2012 Australian Public
and 31.3% never sought support,
Safety Survey, women with
information or advice on the abuse.17
disabilities represented 40.9%
of all female victims of male
intimate partner violence,
whilst only representing 32.3%
of respondents.13
WOMEN IN OR
EXITING PRISON

RURAL, REGIONAL
AND REMOTE
COMMUNITIES Women make up 7% of the Victorian prisoner
population. The number of women in prison
23.7% of the Victorian almost doubled between 2007 and 2017.18
population live outside of
Greater Melbourne.14 87% of female prisoners
in Victoria in 2003 reported
In 2013–14, the 10 Victorian experiencing emotional,
local government areas with sexual or physical abuse
the highest rates of family as an adult, with primary
violence incidents reported perpetrators being
to Victoria Police per 100,000 intimate partners.19
population were outside
metropolitan Melbourne.15

51
 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
MALE VICTIMS
Each year,
approximately
one in every five
In 2016-2017 adult men (18+) constituted Australians will
experience a
13.9% of affected family members
mental illness.22
on original applications for a family
violence intervention order.20

39% of Australian men since the age of

The Royal Commission into Family
15 have experienced violence by a male
Violence heard that mental illness is more
perpetrator, compared to around 12% likely to be an outcome of family violence,
who have experience violence by a
with between 40% of male and 50–90%
female perpetrator.21
of female mental health clients reporting
having experienced family violence in
their lives.23

1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018, 2016 Census QuickStats: 14 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017, Data by Region: Rest of Vic.,
Victoria, http://stat.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?RegionSummary&region=2RVIC&datas
http://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduc et=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&geoconcept=REGIRE&measure=MEASURE
t/census/2016/quickstat/2?opendocument. Accessed: 8 August 2018. &datasetASGS=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&datasetLGA=ABS_NRP9_LGA
2 State of Victoria, 2016, Royal Commission into Family Violence: &regionLGA=REREGI&regionASGS=REGION. Accessed: 8 August 2018
Report and recommendations, Vol V, Parl Paper No 132 (2014-16), 15 State of Victoria, 2016, Royal Commission into Family Violence:
p. 13. Report and recommendations, Vol V, Parl Paper No 132 (2014-16),
3 Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2017, Victoria’s diverse p. 216.
population: 2016 Census, State of Victoria, Melbourne. 16 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018, Same-sex couples in
4 State of Victoria, 2016, Royal Commission into Family Violence: Australia, 2016,
Report and recommendations, Vol V, Parl Paper No 132 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071
(2014–16), p. 101. .0~2016~Main%20Features~Same-Sex%20Couples~85. Accessed: 8
August 2018.
5 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018, 2016 Census QuickStats:
Victoria, 17 LGBTIQ Domestic and Family Violence Interagency and the Centre
http://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduc for Social Research in Health, University of NSW, 2014, Calling it what
t/census/2016/quickstat/2?opendocument. Accessed: 8 August 2018. it really is: A Report into LGBTIQ Experiences of Domestic and Family
Violence, New South Wales.
6 Crime Statistics Agency, 2017, Family violence data dashboard:
Victoria Police, 18 Department of Justice and Regulation – Corrections Victoria, 2018,
https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/family-violence-data-portal/f Corrections Victoria Prisoner Profile, State Government of Victoria,
amily-violence-data-dashboard/victoria-police. Accessed: Melbourne.
25 June 2018. 19 Holly Johnson, 2004, ‘Drugs and Crime: A Study of Incarcerated
7 Quadara A 2008. Sex workers and sexual assault in Australia: Female Offenders’, Research and Public Policy Series No 63,
Prevalence, risk and safety. Issues no. 8. Australian Centre for the Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra.
Study of Sexual Assault, Melbourne. 20 Crime Statistics Agency, 2017, Family violence data dashboard:
8 Data from Project Respect (2011-2012) cited in State of Victoria, Magistrates’ Court,
2016, Royal Commission into Family Violence: Report and https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/family-violence-data-portal/
recommendations, Vol V, Parl Paper No 132 (2014–16) p. 252. family-violence-data-dashboard/magistrates-court. Accessed: 8
August 2018.
9 Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2017, Victoria’s diverse
population: 2016 Census, State of Victoria, Melbourne. 21 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017, Prevalence of violence since the
age of 15 - relationship to perpetrator by sex of perpetrator,
10 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018, 2016 Census QuickStats: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/490
Victoria, 6.0~2016~Main%20Features~Prevalence%20of%20violence%20since%
http://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduc 20the%20age%20of%2015%20-%20Relationship%20to%20perpetrato
t/census/2016/quickstat/2?opendocument. Accessed: 8 August 2018. r%20by%20Sex%20of%20perpetrator~12. Accessed: 21 August 2018.
11 World Health Organization, 2015, World report on ageing and health. 22 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007, National Survey of Mental
Geneva: WHO. Health and Well-being: Summary of results. Catalogue No. 4326.0.
12 Department of Health and Human Services, State of Victoria, 2018, Canberra, ACT.
People with a disability in Victoria, 23 State of Victoria, 2016, Royal Commission into Family Violence:
https://providers.dhhs.vic.gov.au/people-disability-victoria. Report and recommendations, Vol 4, Parl Paper No 132 (2014-16), p. 18.
Accessed: 8 August 2018.
13 Mitra-Kahn, T., Newbigin, C, & Hardefelt, S., 2016, Invisible women,
invisible violence: Understanding and improving data on the
experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault for
diverse groups of women: State of knowledge paper, ANROWS,
Sydney, pp. 22–25.

52 / EVERYBODY MATTERS
INCLUSION Noun /ɪnˈkluːʒ(ə)n/
Empowering access to opportunity, addressing structural
inequalities, tackling unconscious bias and developing
inclusive organisations.
Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government
1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 3002
EQUITY ek-wi-tee, noun. Just and fair inclusion. © The State of Victoria (Family Safety Victoria) December, 2018

An equitable society is one in which all can participate and

prosper. The goals of equity must be to create conditions that
allow all to reach their full potential. In short, equity creates This work, Everybody Matters: Inclusion and Equity Statement, is licensed
a path from hope to change. under a Creative Commons Attribution

4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence,
on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria (Family Safety Victoria)
as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding,
including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo
INTERSECTIONALITY /ɪntəsɛkʃəˈnalɪti/, noun
and the Family Safety Victoria logo. To view a copy of this licence,
A theoretical approach that understands the interconnected visit http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
nature of social categorisations – such as gender, sexual Printed by Digital House, 70 Wirraway Drive, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
orientation, ethnicity, language, religion, class, socioeconomic
ISBN 978-1-76069-477-7 (Print)
status, gender identity, ability or age – which create overlapping
ISBN 978-1-76069-478-4 (pdf/online/MS word)
and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage
for either an individual or group. Content coordination
Images courtesy of John Deer Photography and Talia Cain Photography.

Accessibility
To receive this publication in an accessible format phone (03) 9194 3100,
Aboriginal Acknowledgement using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or email
The Victorian Government acknowledges Victorian Aboriginal people as the First [email protected].
Peoples and Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and water on which This document is also available in PDF format at www.vic.gov.au/familyviolence.
we rely. We acknowledge and respect that Aboriginal communities are steeped
in traditions and customs built on a disciplined social and cultural order that has Disclaimer
sustained 60,000 years of existence. We acknowledge the significant disruptions This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its
to social and cultural order and the ongoing hurt caused by colonisation. employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind
We acknowledge the ongoing leadership role of Aboriginal communities in addressing or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims
and preventing family violence, and will continue to work in collaboration with First all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you
Peoples to eliminate family violence from all communities. relying on any information in this publication.

Family Violence Support Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this publication show models
and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services,
If you have experienced violence or sexual assault and require immediate or ongoing
facilities or recipients of services. This publication may contain images of
assistance, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) to talk to a counsellor from the
deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence hotline. For confidential support and
information, contact the Safe Steps 24/7 family violence response line on 1800 015 188. In this document, ‘Aboriginal’ refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait
If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the police Islander people. ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Koori/Koorie’ is retained when part of the
in your state or territory, or call 000 for emergency assistance. title of a report, program or quotation.

i / EVERYBODY MATTERS
EVERYBODY
MATTERS
INCLUSION AND EQUITY STATEMENT