The Department of Health and Human Services require routine screening for family violence in all public antenatal settings. The screening guidance should be aligned with the revised Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework. Implementation will require targeted and continued training, the development of specific guidelines, and clinical support.
The Department of Health and Human Services continues to work with Family Safety Victoria and public maternity and newborn services to plan for the implementation of routine screening in accordance with the updated Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) and practice guidance (Recommendation 1). This work continues to focus on understanding the support and information that frontline midwives and doctors need to begin and sustain screening for family violence during pregnancy.
The Victorian Government is implementing the MARAM Framework and practice guidance in conjunction with the Family Violence and Information Sharing schemes. Health services will be prescribed under this legislation by June 2021. Over time this will ensure the use of common screening questions and consistent referral pathways to the right services and support. Implementation of the recommendation will see all public antenatal workforces routinely screening for family violence by June 2021.
Slot gameForecast implementation date: 30 June 2021.
Slot gameReviewed 26 August 2020