Strengthening a holistic response to family violence

About Alexis: Family Violence Response Model (A-FVRM)

A-FVRM was established in late 2014 in response to incidents of high-risk and recidivist family violence. The model recognises the gaps in access to and uptake of social services support for both victim-survivors and perpetrators and seeks to address this by integrating a Salvation Army specialist family violence worker within police units. The police officer manages the criminal justice response, while the social worker explores the contributing factors to the violence and provides social services support to victim-survivors, perpetrators and children. Early evaluations of this model by RMIT indicate that integrated support is effective in addressing root causes of family violence and reducing recidivism.

Legal support has been identified by both The Salvation Army and Victoria Police as a missing need within the model. Community legal centres are skilled in offering trauma-informed and comprehensive legal assistance that aligns with the unique challenges and complex needs faced by people impacted by family violence.

Thanks to the support of the VLSB, a Senior Family Violence Lawyer from both Southside Justice and Gippsland Community Legal Service will be integrated into A-FVRM teams in Melbourne and Gippsland.

Victorian Legal Services Board CEO and Commissioner, Fiona McLeay says,

“Through our $11.8 million 2024 Change Grants round, VLSB continues to play its role as one of Victoria’s most substantial enablers of access to justice, funding organisations who work every day to help highly vulnerable Victorians with their various and complex legal needs.” 

I am so pleased we can support Southside Justice and Gippsland Community Legal Service deliver specialist, trauma informed family violence legal assistance through this exceptional program.”

Lorrinda Hamilton is the National General Manager Family Violence at The Salvation Army. She reflects,

“By integrating legal services into this proven whole of family model, we aim to provide comprehensive support to victim survivors experiencing complex and high-risk situations whilst ensuring accountability and engagement of persons using violence. We welcome this partnership and the Senior Lawyer in the program to the Alexis Team and look forward to building on our success as an effective early intervention model which keeps women and children safe.”

Together is better

At Southside Justice, we recognise that deeper impact is made possible through consistent, long-term, multi-stakeholder collaboration.

“As a place-based service, we foster strong relationships with local services to ensure people get the most complete support possible. A-FVRM is a fantastic example of collaboration between The Salvation Army and Victoria Police, and we’re so pleased that legal support will now be integrated into this model in both Melbourne and in Gippsland. This project has the potential to embed long-term change for the most at-risk families in our community.” – CEO of Southside Justice, Mel Dye

“Gippsland Community Legal Service is excited to collaborate with Southside Justice, Victoria Police and the Salvos to embed legal services in the A-FVRM in Gippsland. Given the high rates of family violence in Gippsland and the unique challenges experienced in regional areas, innovative models like A-FVRM are integral to creating positive change for our communities and integrating community legal services into the model will empower families to access legal services at the earliest available opportunity.” – Principal lawyer of Gippsland Community Legal Service, Simon Suttie

This project will commence in 2025 and is funded by the VLSB until 2028. RMIT is continuing to monitor and evaluate A-FVRM and will incorporate the addition of legal support into their evaluation.