Integrated Domestic and Family Violence
The Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Strategy (IDFVS) program is a multi-agency response to prevent the escalation of domestic and family violence among high-risk target groups and in targeted communities. It is a collaboration between Communities and Justice, NSW Police and non-government support agencies.
Who benefits?
The program provides women and children with support to escape and recover from violence and abuse, and improve their outcomes. Support is provided through ongoing practical and emotional support for victims living through the abuse and for victims who have escaped the abuser. The program also works with the perpetrators, as long as it doesn’t compromise the safety and wellbeing of victims and other family members.
Services and support are also provided directly to children, as negotiated and agreed to by their parents. These services can include:
- emotional and practical support
- safety planning
- risk assessment using the mandatory reporting guidelines
- therapeutic support, where specialisation exists within the service.
Why is this program important?
Integrated case management is core to the program. This is a response to family violence that goes beyond coordinating policies, systems and information-sharing to providing case management services which offer a unified, multi-agency approach.
The IDFVS program focuses on achieving the following:
- Empowering women to keep themselves and their family safe.
- Supporting the pursuit of prosecution through the courts.
- Perpetrators are referred to domestic violence behaviour change programs.
- Meeting case plan goals if one is created after an assessment of the family's situation.
Priority of high-risk groups
Priority may be given to high-risk groups including:
- people from disadvantaged and from rural and remote communities
- people with a disability or special needs
- Aboriginal people
- people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- repeat victims of domestic and family violence
- victims of domestic and family violence who previously refused services.
What does the program deliver?
Coordinated services to clients through a multi-disciplinary team and is based on clear referral pathways between service agencies such as Police, Health, Family and Community Services and non-government support agencies.
Delivering the strategy
Program Guidelines for Integrated Domestic Family Violence Strategy provide an overview of the program, its objectives and expected outcomes.
IDFVS Performance Monitoring Service Provider Guidelines explain the process for reporting performance data.
Locations
The Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services program operates out of the following 11 locations:
- Bankstown 02 8713 7811
- Brisbane Waters 02 4323 5524
- Cabramatta 02 9718 6080
- Eastlakes 02 9667 4664
- Green Valley - Liverpool 1800 11 1146
- Mt Druitt 02 8867 4900
- Mullumbimby 02 6684 4299
- North Bondi 02 9365 1607
- Nowra 02 4421 9658
- Port Macquarie 02 6584 9102
- Tuggerah Lakes 02 4356 6280
- Taree/Forster/Tuncurry & Gloucester 02 6539 5900