Develop training packages for faith leaders and communities

Slot gameA Multifaith Advisory Group (MAG) Family Violence Working Group, established in August 2016, is working with relevant organisations to progress this initiative.

Slot gameTraining packages will be based on a consultation and co-design process with the MAG members, other relevant stakeholders and expert family violence practitioners.

This work is supported by the Department of Premier and Cabinet's Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Division and the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

Slot gameThe MAG Family Violence Working Group has met regularly in 2018 and includes representation from peak faith bodies, inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence and Our Watch.

The purpose of the MAG Family Violence Working Group is to:

• engage faith communities and leaders in order to identify current practices that may operate as deterrents to reporting of, or recovery from family violence, and may be used by perpetrators to excuse or condone abusive behaviour
• identify existing resources across faith communities that provide family violence awareness and referral information
• co-design targeted projects with government, expert family violence practitioners and other relevant stakeholders for faith communities and leaders in order to build the capacity of faith communities to prevent family violence, facilitate reporting and support community members to recover from experiences of family violence

Following a tender process, the Department of Premier and Cabinet selected the University of Melbourne (the University) and the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) as the contractors. The University and the MCWH will work in partnership with the MAG to build an evidence base of what works in faith communities to prevent and respond to family violence, and support selected faith community organisations to develop tailored projects.

With the support of the MAG Family Violence Working Group, the University has produced a Technical Paper (with an accompanying Evidence Guide in draft) outlining the best, promising practices for developing the capacity of faith leaders to prevent and respond to family violence and violence against women. The Technical Paper draws on Victorian, Australian and international perspectives. The Technical Paper will inform the activities of 5 pilot projects being developed and implemented by the Anglican, Uniting, Sikh, Buddhist and Multifaith communities.

Work Plans for the 5 pilot projects are currently in draft and are being developed in consultation with family violence prevention experts, and with the support of the MCWH. MCWH will support the 5 pilot projects throughout their implementation into 2020.

Forecast implementation date: 31 March 2021.