Metadata for the Reducing domestic and family violence dashboard

• Risk of significant harm (ROSH) reports where Domestic and Family Violence was a reported issue
• Households and people accessing Start Safely rental subsidy
• Families referred to the Brighter Futures program where domestic violence was a reason for referral

Measure – ROSH reports where Domestic and Family Violence was a reported issue

Description

The numbers refer to the total number of ROSH reports with domestic violence (or other reported issues) recording as one of the three reported issues for children and young people during the year.

The percentage figures refer to the total number of ROSH reports with domestic violence (or other reported issues) recording as one of the three reported issues for children and young people during the year as a percentage of the total number of ROSH reports during the year.

Prevalence is calculated based on all recorded issues. Domestic violence is the default reported issue in the graph.  The prevalence of other reported issues (e.g.: Physical Abuse, Neglect and Sexual Abuse) is also available using the filter.

When a child and young person concern report is received, it is first classified according to the issue that is considered most significant.  In addition, the initial assessment allows for the recording of up to 3 reported issues.  As a report can have multiple reported issues recorded, the categories reported are not mutually exclusive and do not add up to the total number of ROSH reports.

Child/young person risk behaviours include:

• Drug/alcohol use by child or young person
• Child inappropriate sexual behaviour
• Suicide risk for child
• Child or young person is danger to self/others, introduced in 2013/14
• Children and young people self-harming behaviour, introduced in 2014/15.

Prenatal reporting is defined under Section 27 Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 which provides for reports to be made for unborn children where there are concerns that the child may be at risk of significant harm after his or her birth. Prior to 2012/13 prenatal reports were captured under ‘Carer: other issues’ category.

For 2017-18 'Other issues' includes ROSH reports for additional children recorded at field assessment hence, Helpline assessed issue is not applicable.

Publisher

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Numerator

The total number of ROSH reports with domestic violence (or other reported issues) recording as one of the three reported issues for children and young people during the year.

Denominator

The total number of ROSH reports during the year

Data Filter

• Financial year
• Reported issue (all issues)

Data Limitation

Not applicable

Data Source

• KiDS – Corporate Information Warehouse (CIW) for annual data up to 2016-17
• ChildStory – Corporate Information Warehouse (CIW) for annual data from 2017-18

Measure – Households and people accessing Start Safely rental subsidy

Description

This refers to the total number of Start Safely experiencing domestic or family violence who accessed the Start Safely rental subsidy in the reporting period.

Start Safely is a rental subsidy to provide short to medium term financial help to eligible clients who have experienced domestic or family violence to secure private rental accommodation and not to return to the violent situation.

Due to the introduction of Rent Choice during 2017-18, Start Safely private rental subsidy is reported under Rent Choice as ‘Rent Choice Start Safely’.

Publisher

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Numerator

Not applicable

Denominator

Not applicable

Data Filter

• Financial year

Data Limitation

Nil

Data Source

HOMES – Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW)

Measure – Families referred to the Brighter Futures program where domestic violence was a reason for referral

Description

This refers to total number of families referred to Brighter Futures program where domestic violence was a reason for referral.

Brighter Futures program is an early intervention program targeting the families of children who are at high risk of entering the statutory child protection system. Prior to July 2014, the target group was focused on those families who do not meet the ROSH threshold. From July 2014 the target group expanded to include eligible children and families where the ROSH threshold has been met.

To be able to access the Brighter Futures program, parents must be experiencing at least one of seven areas of vulnerability. If this issue is not addressed, it is likely to impact on the parenting capacity and affect the well-being of their children.

The Brighter Futures program is delivered by non-government agencies.

Due to the introduction of ChildStory, reporting on Brighter Futures program in 2017-18 is not available.

Publisher

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Numerator

Not applicable

Denominator

Not applicable

Data Filter

• Financial year

Data Limitation

Nil

Data Source

• KiDS – Corporate Information Warehouse (CIW) for annual data up to 2016-17

• Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) support periods provided to clients experiencing domestic and family violence
• DCJ Domestic Violence Line referrals to support services
• DCJ Domestic Violence Line referrals to counselling and other supports
• Number of calls to the DCJ Domestic Violence Line

Measure – SHS support periods provided to clients experiencing domestic and family violence

Description

This refers to the total number of support periods provided by SHS to women/children clients either experiencing domestic and family violence or being identified as needing assistance with domestic and family violence at any time during the support in the year as a percentage of the total number of support periods provided by SHS to all clients in the year.

"Experiencing domestic and family violence" is defined as support periods where clients either sought SHS assistance due to domestic and family violence or were identified as needing assistance with domestic and family violence at any time during support in the reporting period.

Publisher

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Numerator

The total number of support periods provided by SHS to women/children clients either experiencing domestic and family violence or being identified as needing assistance with domestic and family violence at any time during the support in the year.

Denominator

The total number of support periods provided by SHS to all clients in the year.

Data Filter

Financial year

Data Limitation

Data from some non-government organisations are excluded from the counts because these service providers use different systems to record client data.  DCJ is working to integrate future data records from these providers with CIMS data.

Data Source

NSW Client Information Management System (CIMS)

Measure – DCJ Domestic Violence Line referrals to support services

Description

This refers to the total number of instances where the DCJ Domestic Violence Line refers the people to family and domestic violence related support services.

Due to the introduction of a new operational system by DCJ Domestic Violence Line in 2017-18, reporting on the number of referrals to support services by the DCJ Domestic Violence Line in 2017-18 is not available.

Publisher

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Numerator

Not applicable

Denominator

Not applicable

Data Filter

• Financial year

Data Limitation

Not applicable

Data Source

DCJ Domestic Violence Line Database Annual Data

Measure – DCJ Domestic Violence Line referrals to counselling and other supports

Description

This refers to the total number of referrals to other counselling services and/or to other support services for the victim.

Due to the introduction of a new operational system by DCJ Domestic Violence Line in 2017-18, reporting on the number of referrals to counselling and/or other support services for the victims by the DCJ Domestic Violence Line in 2017-18 is not available.

Publisher

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Numerator

Not applicable

Denominator

Not applicable

Data Filter

• Financial year

Data Limitation

Nil

Data Source

DCJ Domestic Violence Line Database Annual Data

Measure – Number of calls to the DCJ Domestic Violence Line by victim gender and district

Description

This refers to the total number of calls made by victims, advocates or perpetrators to the DCJ Domestic Violence Line to assist people who experience or have experienced family and domestic violence. The total does not represent a unique count of people.

Due to the introduction of a new operational system by DCJ Domestic Violence Line in 2017-18, reporting on the number of calls to the Helpline in 2017-18 is not available.

Publisher

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Numerator

Not applicable

Denominator

Not applicable

Data Filters

• Financial year
• District
• Gender

Data Limitation

These data should be treated with caution due to a significant non-response rate which is attributed to the sensitive nature of the issue. Not stated gender category includes hang-up/nuisance calls.

Issues of domestic violence reported are classified by the caller, in the categories of physical, verbal, sexual, emotional, social and economic issues and recorded by the caseworker.  These data should be treated with caution due to a significant non-response rate.

Data Source

DCJ Domestic Violence Line Database Annual Data

Measure – Number of calls to the DCJ Domestic Violence Line by Issues of violence reported

Description

This refers to the total number of Economic, Emotional, Physical, Sexual, Social and Verbal issues of violence reporting to the DCJ Domestic Violence Helpline.

Due to the introduction of a new operational system by DCJ Domestic Violence Line in 2017-18, reporting on the number of calls to the Helpline by issues of violence reported in 2017-18 is not available.

Publisher

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

Numerator

Not applicable

Denominator

Not applicable

Data Filters

• Issue of violence
• Financial year

Data Limitation

These data should be treated with caution due to a significant non-response rate which is attributed to the sensitive nature of the issue. Not stated gender category includes hang-up/nuisance calls.

Issues of domestic violence reported are classified by the caller, in the categories of physical, verbal, sexual, emotional, social and economic issues and recorded by the caseworker.  These data should be treated with caution due to a significant non-response rate.

Data Source

DCJ Domestic Violence Line Database Annual Data