Family Violence Integration Project

The Family Violence Integration Project is a new and innovative partnership project led by Eastern Community Legal Centre, funded by the Legal Services Board.

The process of considering and seeking an Intervention Order is a highly complex and challenging experience for victim/survivors (especially victims of family violence).  There is however scope to make systemic and strategic improvements to this process through the partnership and collaboration of key agencies.

The objective of the Family Violence Integration Project is therefore to improve the response of legal and support services to victim/survivors of family violence in a co?ordinated and integrated manner, with a focus on the partners working at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court.

The project will aim do this by:

  • Undertaking significant consultation with agencies and past clients at the commencement and at key stages of the project, to inform its development and to develop a clear evidence base regarding effective strategies.
  • Establishing improved co-ordinated responses for parties engaging with the legal components of the family violence systems, with an emphasis on victim/survivors of family violence.
  • Utilising and expanding the existing partnerships of agencies currently delivering an Intervention Order Support Service at the Ringwood Magistrates Court.
  • Developing and implementing education and case-coordination strategies to improve the pathway and experience of parties entering and exiting the court process.
  • Ensuring that victim/survivors are well informed and able to access all of their entitlements through victims of crime support and compensation and other relevant programs.

The Intervention Order Support Service (IOSS) at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court is provided by a partnership including Eastern Domestic Violence Service (EDVOS), Victoria Legal Aid Ringwood (VLA), Ringwood Magistrates’ Court, EACH Eastern Victims Assistance Program (EVAP) and Victoria Police. The Family Violence Integration Project was identified and developed by the IOSS Partnership and the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Family Violence Partnership. The IOSS Partnership recently successfully produced Steps 2 Safety, a Video explaining the Family Violence Intervention Order process: www.eclc.org.au/steps2safety.

To view the project brief, click here.

If you would like more information about this project please feel free to contact:

Marika Manioudakis
Co-ordinator – Family Violence Integration Project
Eastern Community Legal Centre
Suite 3, Town Hall Hub
27 Bank Street
Box Hill VIC 3128

marikam(at)eclc.org.au
Phone: 9285 4822
Fax: 9285 4833