MARAMIS Quarterly Newsletter Quarter 1 2025-26

What MARAM practice guidance is being developed?

Family Safety Victoria (FSV) is developing child and young person-focused MARAM Practice Guides and tools.

Consults on the draft Practice Guides and tools commenced 30 July 2025 and concluded 12 September 2025. A broad range of stakeholders participated in user testing and review of the resources. Consultation participants provided feedback through feedback forms and focus groups. FSV will work to reflect the feedback and finalise the Practice Guides and Tools for release in early 2026.

These new Practice Guides and tools will support professionals to respond directly to children and young people experiencing family violence and wellbeing needs or using family violence. It will also ensure professionals respond with a trauma and violence-informed, and age and developmental stage lens.

The Practice Guides and tools will cover:

• direct family violence risk and wellbeing assessment and management of children and young people victim survivors
• direct family violence risk assessment and management when responding to young people using family violence in the home or in intimate partner/dating relationships.

What has been achieved so far?

The new Practice Guides and tools are informed by a range of recent reviews and studies into children and young people’s experiences of family violence including the I Believe You report published by Monash University in February 2023.

In July 2024, Swinburne University concluded the Delphi study. This was used to test family violence risk and wellbeing factors for children and young people experiencing family violence. The findings were used to develop the identification and assessment tools. This included both survey and focus groups with subject matter experts, including practitioners from prescribed workforces.

This has built on a variety of stakeholder engagements and research undertaken since 2022, including 41 consults held with over 500 professionals across MARAM prescribed workforces.

FSV continues to meet monthly with youth advocates involved in the I Believe You research to ensure the voices of children and young people are centred in the Practice Guides and tools.

MARAMIS Week Announcement

We are excited to announce MARAMIS week will take place on 10-14 November 2025. This year's MARAMIS week will focus on Children and Young People and inform how the MARAM Framework recognises children as victim survivors in their own right.

Training update

In 2024-25 19,046 modules of training on MARAM and information sharing were delivered. This training equips professionals across the state to recognise risk and coordinate care and supports across services.

New family violence capability performance goals have been added to the Department of Families Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Professional Development Performance goal library. The goals include suggested actions for success, such as:

• attending family violence training
• raising awareness amongst team members
• supporting teams to build capability in responding to family violence.

A further three MARAMIS eLearn’s have been created to support family violence capability uplift. This is required learning when staff join the department, and part of the cycle of mandatory learning required for specified staff.

For more information contact: Denise.O’Dowd@familysafety.vic.gov.au.

What is MARAM Accredited Training?

The Centre for Workforce Excellence (CWE) in DFFH is working in partnership with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) to develop Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses in family violence.

Courses:

Identifying and Responding to Family Violence was re-accredited in 2024 with the new code 22660VIC. Courseware has been developed to support training providers to deliver the course. You can view a list of training providers approved to deliver 22660VIC at the training.vic.gov.au website.

Intermediate Risk Assessment and Management of Family Violence (22625VIC) was re-accredited in 2023 and is available to training providers for delivery.

Resource development for the unit VU23432 – Undertake intermediate assessment and management of family violence risk has commenced and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Contributing to the Prevention of Family Violence and Violence Against Women (22621VIC) was accredited in 2023 and is available to TAFEs for delivery.

Resources are under development for the unit VU23411 - Contribute to primary prevention of family violence and all forms of violence against women and will be available by the end of this year.

Individuals can commence their studies during or before they enter the workforce as part of their pre-service education and training.

The training aims to build the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of existing and future workforces to respond to and contribute to the prevention of family violence. These courses are the first accredited training courses to be directly based on the Family Violence MARAM Framework.

What is the MARAM Model of Alignment?

The MARAM Model of Alignment will provide guidance to organisations on how to meet their legal obligations to align to MARAM and benchmark their progress.

The policy introduces a continuous improvement cycle that organisations should follow to work towards and sustain alignment to the MARAM Framework. It will be supported by a suite of resources.

What has been achieved so far?

The draft policy and redeveloped maturity resources have been tested across government departments’ MARAM-focused teams.

A project-specific Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) Working Group commenced in May 2025. This group collaborates with FSV to develop policy and practical guidance that makes sense to organisations.

Acknowledging the unique position, values and ways of working held by ACCOs, this working group supports the sharing of knowledge between ACCOs and FSV to create policy and resources that are respectful and supportive of community and culture.

The Working Group creates a dedicated space to discuss options, review draft materials and revise the policy, tools, supporting resources and guidance so that:

• the materials support organisations to undertake their responsibilities in a flexible way to meet the needs of their service delivery and communities
• changes or inclusions to the materials support ACCOs to self-determine how they align to the MARAM Framework, within the already set legal parameters
• a trauma-informed approach is considered and included throughout the materials
• the materials support the development of robust alignment plans that reflect what does and doesn’t work for varying workforces
• the materials appropriately consider the scale of work and the impact this has on implementation.

The ACCO Working Group has met five times since commencing, focusing on the draft Model of Alignment policy, Maturity Model on a Page, and Self-assessment tool.

What is happening now?

Over the coming months the ACCO Working Group will continue to work through tools and resources. FSV will undertake targeted consultations with other external stakeholders to build on the work completed in the Working Group.

What is the MARAMIS Sector Support Program?

The MARAMIS Sector Support Program commenced in 2024-25, replacing the lapsed MARAMIS Sector Capacity Building Grants.

This program has two streams of activity – MARAM alignment and capability building and practice uplift.

What has been achieved so far?

Safe and Equal, No to Violence and Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare as the three MARAM Practice Lead roles have been delivering state-wide activities focused on capability building and practice uplift.

Principal Strategic Advisors have been leading a range of MARAM alignment initiatives within their respective regions. Work has focussed on improving understanding and alignment to MARAM and information sharing within and across prescribed organisations.

What is happening now?

Work is underway to confirm the approach to support sector implementation for 2025-26.

What is the Enhance Perpetrator-focused MARAM Practice project?

The MARAM enhancement project (as part of the Changing Ways program) is running from 2024-27 to deliver:

• change management activities to improve coordination of multi-agency activity around the perpetrator.
• a MARAM practice support function to support continuous learning and skill development.

Principal Strategic Advisors will lead a place-based implementation approach to drive organisational alignment to MARAM at the local level. Changing Ways Providers will drive internal practice changes and work collaboratively with local services to improve skills.

This approach has been designed to pilot a new model of MARAM and information sharing whole of system response, with learnings to inform future implementation efforts.

What is happening now?

As Changing Ways Providers, Peninsula Health, Meli, and Dardi Munwurro are delivering MARAM Practice Lead roles, focused on increasing understanding and building skills in MARAM practice when working with people using family violence.

Principal Strategic Advisors located in Barwon and Bayside are leading a range of MARAM alignment and information sharing initiatives. This includes working with organisations that come into contact and supporting clients of Changing Ways.

Dardi Munwurro is undertaking a learning project to explore what enables or hinders organisational MARAM alignment. The project aims to deepen understanding of the engagement and capability building activities critical to improving MARAM alignment. It will focus on the partnership and collaboration elements of the MARAM Framework recognising they are critical to the success of systemic responses to family violence.

What is the MARAM Survey?

The MARAM annual survey helps FSV understand the progress of framework organisations and information sharing entities in understanding and using the reforms. This year FSV designed the survey with Principal Strategic Advisers to reduce the number of surveys in the field and gather consistent and comparable data across regions.

There were 1,387 respondents to this year’s survey, a 33% increase from last year. Respondents were from a range of workforces, primarily within the human services and health sectors.

Frontline practitioners and understanding MARAM

Frontline practitioners demonstrated a strong understanding of their MARAM and Information Sharing responsibilities, with many areas improving since 2024:

• More than 94% know how to respond to family violence in their role
• 89% understand how to work with other agencies to assess and manage family violence risk
• 94-98% of respondents reported the training they accessed on MARAM and information sharing was somewhat or very helpful.

Leaders and organisational alignment

More than half (55%) of leaders/policy leads who responded to the survey indicated that organisational alignment to MARAM is a high priority over the next 12 months, while 27% rated it a medium priority. Nearly two thirds reported that their organisation either has a MARAM implementation plan or was adopting one provided by their funded department.

Roadblocks to alignment, information sharing and collaboration

Consistent with results from previous years, both frontline and leader/policy lead respondents pointed to lack of staff time and high workloads as the biggest barriers to implementing MARAM.

The most common barrier to information sharing was delays in receiving information under the schemes (24%), followed by a lack of cross sector understanding (17%).

Most respondents were confident to collaborate with other practitioners from across the service systems (52% confident, 39% very confident). The most common barrier to collaboration was referrals not being accepted or length of waiting lists.

What is happening now?

Results from the 2025 survey will be used to inform work by departments to support funded agencies across Victoria with MARAM implementation.

Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) Ministerial Guidelines

Family Safety Victoria has commenced a review of the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) Ministerial Guidelines.

The Guidelines review is in line with recommendations made by the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor (FVRIM) in the 5-Year Legislative review of Parts 5A and 11 of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) (the Legislative Review).

The Guidelines will be rewritten to:

• clarify and strengthen content
• assist practitioners in understanding the operation of FVISS
• reduce length and complexity
• provide clarity on the operation of FVISS and its relationship to other reforms.

A new tool kit will be developed to complement the Guidelines and address recommendations made in the Legislative review.

Information Sharing Entities will have the opportunity to provide feedback on a draft version of the Guidelines during a public consultation period in 2026.

Tools for Risk Assessment Management (TRAM)?

TRAM has been developed by Family Safety Victoria (FSV) as an online platform for use across the service system.

TRAM contains:

• Adult and child victim survivor MARAM risk assessments and safety plan
• Comprehensive Adult Using Family Violence assessment tool
• Predominant Aggressor Identification tool.

The TRAM platform is used across The Orange Door network and by several community agencies.

Specialist Homelessness Information Platform (SHIP)

FSV is leading the development of the MARAM risk assessment and management tools.

SHIP contains the adult and child victim survivor MARAM risk assessments and safety plan.

Collection of de-identified data

Use of these tools in TRAM and SHIP allows FSV to collect and analyse de-identified data on family violence risk and trends. This information will contribute to service improvements and the evidence base on family violence risk.

What is happening next?

Once the child and young person-focused MARAM Practice Guides and tools are published in 2026, work will commence to build the appropriate tools into both TRAM and SHIP.

In 2026, FSV will also commence work to build the adults using family violence Identification and Intermediate Risk Assessment tools in SHIP.

Interested in using TRAM?

Organisations interested in more information or adopting TRAM can contact tram@familysafety.vic.gov.au.

Consultations and Training with Women with Disabilities Victoria’s Gender & Disability Experts by Experience Advocates

As group of 12 women and gender diverse people with diverse experiences of disability, the Experts support the development of policies, products and services by sharing their lived experience expertise.

They also offer one-hour introductory training that covers aspects of gender equality, disability inclusion and prevention of violence against women and gender diverse people with disabilities.

Consultations:

Consultations take place monthly via Zoom, on Thursdays between 11am and 2pm. You will be supported throughout the process, enabling you to get the most from your consultation time.

Consultation fees:

1 consultation session (60-minute session) - $880

2 consultation sessions (120-minute session) - $1,660

Please note if booking 2 consultations, both consultations do not need to be conducted on the same day. Session length can be negotiated.

Training:

Introduction to Preventing Gender and Disability Based Violence is grounded in research, evidence and the lived experience of women and gender diverse people with disabilities.

1-hour sessions can be held online or in person and content may be adjusted to meet your group’s training needs.

Training cost: $660

Please note: The cost may vary if there are requirements in addition to our standard sessions.

How to book:

Contact the Gender and Disability Workforce Development Team at gandd@wdv.org.au for further information or to book a session.

Generally, a minimum of 8-weeks' notice is required.

Information Sharing and Family Violence Reforms: Guidance, Tools and Training

• The Department of Education has updated its guidance and released 3 new tools. These tools will support schools and early childhood services to identify and respond to family violence in a safe and consistent way.
• To help meet schools and early childhood services’ legislated MARAM responsibilities, principals and service leaders should identify 2 to 3 MARAM nominated staff who will be responsible for family violence screening, safety planning and making referrals and reports.
• New training is available for MARAM nominated staff to understand and action their school or service’s MARAM responsibilities.
• For further enquiries, contact the Information Sharing and MARAM enquiry line:
  • phone: 1800 549 646
  • email: cisandfvis@education.vic.gov.au

MARAM Video Series

What is the MARAM Video Series?

The MARAM video series consists of 17 impactful videos to support prescribed workforces to better understand MARAM reforms, including the key concepts and responsibilities that apply to their role. These videos are available on the Vic Gov website and YouTube.

What videos are available?

The series includes two types of videos:

• MARAM animation series: Six short videos on specific MARAM practice topics, for example Structured Professional Judgement. You can view them on the Vic Gov website or on YouTube.
• MARAM victim survivor and person using family violence series: Eleven longer role play scenarios between a practitioner and client, including graphics with key topics raised. You can view them on the Vic Gov website or on YouTube.

MARAMIS Fact Sheets

MARAMIS fact sheets were developed to support people receiving services from DFFH but are relevant to a broad range of workforces.

The fact sheets outline the Family Violence MARAM Framework and Information Schemes in everyday practice. To support diverse communities, the fact sheets are translated into 6 commonly used languages: Dinka, Somali, Simplified Chinese, Oromo, Arabic and Vietnamese. They are also translated into easy English.

Access the fact sheets at Family violence multi-agency risk assessment and management framework.