Barwon South West – Integrating Family Violence

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The Integrated Family Violence (IFV) plan started in 2006. It aims to improve and develop services to people experiencing family violence, in all communities in the region. These plans are linked to the Regional Indigenous FV Action Plan.

See pdf link … BSW NEW Governance Structure Map 2009

This approach brings together family violence and other services wishing to improve responses to:

· Reduce deaths, injuries and the emotional impact of family violence

· Better respond to all women and children experiencing family violence

· Strengthen the response of the police and the courts to family violence

· Hold men who use violent/abusive behaviour accountable to change their behaviour

· Emphasise the rights, needs and safety of children

· Provide greater support to all workers who deal with victims of family violence

· Raise awareness about family violence across all communities in the region.

What is Family Violence?

The Barwon Integrated FV Plan use the following Definition -

Family violence is the repeated use of violent, threatening, coercive or controlling behaviour by an individual against a family member(s), or someone with whom they have, or have had, an intimate relationship. Violent behaviour includes not only physical assaults but an array of power and control tactics used along a continuum in concert with one another,18 including direct or indirect threats, sexual assault, emotional and psychological torment, economic control, property damage, social isolation and behaviour which causes a person to live in fear.

Currently only certain behaviours and actions defined as family violence are criminal offences19, any behaviour that constitutes family violence is unacceptable.

Family violence can occur within any intimate relationship, including same sex relationships. It affects transgender people, the elderly and people with disabilities. While it can be perpetuated by any member of a family against another,20 it is more likely to be perpetrated by men (predominately by a woman’s current or ex-partner) against woman and children.

Because family violence can occur in any culture, it is important that the definition of family violence recognises and reflects the perspectives and realities of all communities within Victoria, including Indigenous communities. The Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Taskforce has defined family violence as: ‘An issue focused around a wide range of physical, emotional, sexual, social, spiritual, cultural, psychological and economic abuses that occur within families, intimate relationships, extended families, kinship networks and communities. It extends to one-on-one fighting, abuse of Indigenous community workers, as wellas self-harm, injury and suicide.

(From: DV Victoria Code of Practice)

If you would like more information about the IFV Plan – email