Improve the collection of Indigenous specific data relating to family violence

To improve data collection across the family violence response, a Victorian Family Violence Data Collection Framework (VFVDCF) has been developed for use across government and by collaborating agencies.

The VFVDCF provides the consistent data definitions, standards and recording practices needed to be able to improve the collection of family violence-related information, including the collection of Aboriginal-specific data relating to family violence.

The VFVDCF will standardise the collection and output of family violence information and includes:

• a common set of agreed data definitions and standards
• a common set of recording practices for collecting demographic information across agencies that capture family violence data
• a set of performance indicators

The VFVDCF also provides a specific focus on the improvement of data collection in relation to:

• older people
• people with disabilities
• Aboriginal people
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse and intersex people

Where possible, the definitions and standards in the VFVDCF will align with national standards and classifications so that data can be compared.

In delivering the VFVDCF, an evaluation of Victoria's current family violence data holdings and data gaps will also be conducted. This analysis will identify the improvements required in the collection of data relating to family violence, including data specific to Aboriginal communities.

A plan will then be developed to address the identified gaps. This will include:

• examining the administrative data systems of relevant departments to determine the extent and feasibility of potential changes to be able to collect the required data
• developing a capability building plan that addresses the training of workers to capture and record data correctly in administrative data systems

The Dhelk Dja Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability (MEA) Plan accompanies Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Cultures, Strong Peoples, Strong Families, the Aboriginal 10-year Family Violence Agreement 2018-2028. The MEA Plan lays out how the Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum can monitor and evaluate its strategy, including whether the Dhelk Dja agreement is achieving its intended outcomes.

The outcomes, indicators and measures in the MEA Plan are Aboriginal defined measures of progress and success that align with holistic understandings of health and wellbeing and were developed with the Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum in line with the Victorian government’s commitment to Aboriginal self-determination.

Under the MEA Plan, an Aboriginal Data Mapping and Data Needs project has commenced to support baseline understanding of Aboriginal family violence and build the evidence base for prevention and intervention. The defined data, indicators and measures developed will support annual reporting to the Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum and inform strategic decision making and priority setting.

A Working Group has been established to oversee the project to map existing data custodians and identify Indigenous specific family violence data that can be measured and monitored and the development of a reporting template that can be shared with communities.

The Data Collection Framework will be used to improve data collection of Indigenous specific data relating to family violence by informing data collection system improvements and updates due to occur in an incremental roll-out to improve data sharing with communities, organisations and governance forums to inform local, regional and state-wide responses.

In 2019 and early 2020 the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) undertook a community consultation about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crime data needs with a focus on Victoria Police contact data. In collaboration with Victoria Police the CSA then commenced work to improve the processing of data collected using the Standard Indigenous Question (SIQ) as per the recommendations arising from consultation. As of 24 September 2020, the CSA begun publishing data collected by police via the SIQ concerning the Indigenous Status of alleged aggressors (OTHs) and victim-survivors (AFMs) of family incidents.

The Family Violence Outcomes Framework (FVOF) Measurement and Monitoring Implementation Strategy outlines a staged approach to building the validity and reliability of outcomes data over the next three years in parallel to delivery of the reform, including for Aboriginal cohorts over time.

Implemented.