Information sharing and MARAM

Background

The Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS), Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS), MARAM, and Child Link all support the wellbeing and safety of Victorian children.

CISS and FVISS (the Information Sharing Schemes), together with MARAM, were introduced in response to Royal Commissions, coronial inquests and independent inquiries that identified poor information sharing as a barrier to service collaboration with detrimental outcomes for children and families.

The Information Sharing Schemes authorise schools and services to:

• respond to requests for information to promote child wellbeing or safety, and or assess and manage risk of family violence
• request information to promote child wellbeing or safety and or manage risk of family violence
• proactively share information to promote child wellbeing or safety and or manage risk of family violence.

The Information Sharing Schemes and MARAM promote the wellbeing and safety of children and families by:

• improving earlier identification of issues or risks, including family violence risk. This enables earlier support and participation in services.
• increasing collaboration and supporting a more coordinated and integrated approach to service delivery across the service system
• empowering professionals to make informed decisions
• promoting shared responsibility for wellbeing and safety, and defining responsibilities for identifying and responding to family violence across the service system, including creating consistent and collaborative practice
• identifying wellbeing and safety issues and risks, and obtaining relevant information to share in relation to family violence. You may apply MARAM guidance on what to look for and what questions to ask in relation to family violence.

Child Link

Child Link is a digital tool that is a key enabler of CISS. Child Link has the complementary aim of improving wellbeing and safety outcomes for children and young people. In a school or early childhood setting, authorised staff can use Child Link to view key information about the children and young people who attend their school or service. For more information, refer to Child Link: Policy.

Schools and early childhood services

The Information Sharing Schemes and MARAM remove barriers and make it easier for school and early childhood professionals to access information across the entire service system.

School and early childhood professionals can use the information sharing schemes to share vital knowledge to:

• promote children’s wellbeing or safety
• manage and assess the risk of family violence.

For example, schools and services can request or share information when a child transitions from kindergarten to primary school.

Together, CISS, FVISS and MARAM expand the ways schools and services can share information with other authorised services, such as maternal and child health services, The Orange Door, Victoria Police and child protection. This empowers them to:

• get the full picture of the children and young people in the school or service
• identify issues or risks for children and families sooner
• ensure children receive the best support possible across services
• support children at key transition points.

Schools and services may also use MARAM tools for guidance on what questions to ask and what risk factors to look for to identify family violence risk.