NIFVS is not a crisis response service – if in immediate danger phone 000 or Get Help
QUICK EXIT
Northern Integrated Family
Violence Services Partnership
For professionals supporting the
safety of victim survivors in Melbourne's
northern metropolitan region

A reflection on 2023

“The Northern Integrated Family Violence Service (NIFVS), though the Regional Integration Committee, provides family violence system leadership across Melbourne’s NMR (Northern Metropolitan Region) to increase the safety of victim survivors, accountability of people who use violence, and strengthen Victoria’s family violence reforms.”

Dear All

What a huge year 2023 has been and we now find ourselves at that time of year where we sit back and reflect on the time that has passed: the successes, the achievements, the lessons learned.

2023 has been a fruitful year for the Northern Integrated Family Violence Services (NIFVS) partnership, starting from the formation of a new team; we welcomed a new MARAMIS and Workforce Development Coordinator and Communications and Program Support Officer.

As a new team we have worked hard to achieve many of the priorities identified across both the 2022.23 and 2023.24 NIFVS Annual Action Plans in 2023.

Some highlights from this year include:

  • Development of the new 2023.26 3-year NIFVS Strategic Plan (to be launched in 2024) that aligns with the latest Family Violence Regional Integration Committee guidelines and five statewide strategic family violence priorities.
  • Launch of the Regional Victim Survivor Experience Mapping Report and the ‘Turning Input into Action’ Forum held on 30 March 2023 and attended by 60 organisational leaders from across the NMR. The report ensures that victim survivor’s voices are heard and has informed all key decision making undertaken across the region by NIFVS in 2023.
  • Continued roll out and delivery of NIFVS training, including MARAM Collaborative Practice and delivery of ‘Introduction to Family Violence Sector’ sessions to a wide range of prescribed Tier 3 and 4 workforces and non-prescribed organisations who regularly work with and support victim survivors (including children) experiencing or recovering from family violence.
  • Delivery of the 2023 Family Violence and Sexual Assault Graduate Program in partnership with Kids First Australia.
  • Implementation of system responsive changes to NMR Counselling Support Alliance enhancing referral pathways, therapeutic recovery responses and outcomes for victim survivors of family violence across the region.
  • Bringing together the Family Violence Networks across the NMR to better understand common themes and issues across the region at a local area level.
  • Supporting system changes to adopt practices that align with the new Family Violence Crisis Response Model that ensures that crisis responses are consistent, clearly communicated, and jointly managed by regional family violence services.
  • Supporting system changes and adopting the ‘no wrong door’ approach opening referral pathways for victim survivors of family violence.
  • Recently undertaking the first NMR MARAMIS Survey for prescribed practitioners. Report and findings will be launched in early 2024.

We would like to acknowledge the incredible work that is undertaken by all our family violence and sexual assault partners and workforces across the NMR. Without your dedication to the work the system would not be as agile and responsive to the needs of victim survivors of family violence.

Looking forward into 2024:

  • Launch of the MARAM Alignment Survey Report and the Strategic Plan 2023-2026.
  • Launch of the 2024 annual MARAMIS Alignment survey which will be open for 6 weeks as of March 2024. All family violence and sexual assault workers are encouraged to participate in the survey as the outcomes will allow the building of an evidence base for practice, advocacy, and regional service system reform.
  • Commencement of planning for ‘Phase 2’ of the Victim Survivor Experience Mapping for the NMR.
  • Innovative and exciting changes to the approach in which the NIFVS Team records and disseminates information to enhance the accessibility of information to all workforces working with victim-survivors and people who use violence.

The NIFVS Partnership and team would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas and safe New Year and we look forward to working with you all in 2024.

Warm regards,

Veronica Hunt

Principal Strategic Advisor
Northern Integrated Family Violence Services