A young person who chooses to use coercive and controlling techniques and violence
against family members, including intimate partners. Adolescents who use family
violence often coexist as victims of family violence and therapeutic responses should
be explored.

People whose gender identity is in-line with the social expectations of their sex
assigned at birth; i.e. those who are not transgender.

To practice in a culturally safe way means to carry out practice in collaboration with
the service user, with care and insight for their culture, while being mindful of one’s
own. A culturally safe environment is one where people feel safe and where there is no
challenge or need for the denial of their identity.4

Diverse communities include the following groups:
diverse cultural, linguistic and faith communities; people with a disability; people
experiencing mental health issues; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse,
intersex and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) people; women in, or exiting, prison or forensic
institutions; people who work in the sex industry; people living in regional, remote and rural
communities; male victims; older people and young people (12–25 years of age).

Is any harm or mistreatment of an older person that is committed by someone with
whom the older person has a relationship of trust. In the context of family violence, this
may be by any person who is a family member (such as their partner or adult children)
or carer. Elder abuse may take any of the forms defined under ‘family violence’.

Any behaviour that occurs in family, domestic or intimate relationships that is
physically or sexually abusive; emotionally or psychologically abusive; economically
abusive; threatening or coercive; or, is in any other way controlling that causes a
person to live in fear for their safety or wellbeing or that of another person.7
In relation to children, family violence is also defined as behaviour by any person that
causes a child to hear or witness or otherwise be exposed to the effects of the above
behaviour.
This definition includes violence within a broader family context, such as extended
families, kinship networks and communities

The process of applying the model of Structured Professional Judgement (SPJ),14 to
determine the level of family violence risk.
SPJ is informed by:
§§ the victim-survivor’s self-assessed level of risk
§§ evidence-based risk factors (using the relevant assessment tool)
§§ information sharing with other professionals as appropriate, to inform
decision-making
§§ intersectional analysis to ascertain any issues caused by discrimination and
marginalisation.

Has the same meaning as set out in the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic),
being an information sharing entity that is prescribed to belong to the category of a
risk assessment entity. Risk assessment entities can request and voluntarily receive
information from an Information Sharing entity for a family violence assessment
purpose.

Evidence-based factors that are associated with the likelihood of family violence
occurring, or the severity of the risk of family violence.

Any action or intervention taken to reduce the level of risk posed to a victim and
hold perpetrators to account. Actions taken and interventions that are implemented
appropriate to the level of risk identified in the risk assessment stage.17

A plan developed by the victim-survivor, typically with the support of a specialist family
violence practitioner (or other professional), to help manage their own safety in the
short to medium term, while other risk management actions and interventions are
being organised. Safety plans should use a strengths-based approach and identify
protective factors that build on what the victim-survivor is already doing and what
works for their circumstances.18

Evidence-based risk factors associated with the increased likelihood of the victim-survivor
being killed or nearly killed, as per the MARAM Framework.19

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

The person, including adults, infants, children and young people, who has experienced
family violence. This term acknowledges that the person subjected to family violence is
both a victim of a crime and a human rights violation, and they are also a survivor with
respect to their autonomy, strength and resilience.
The term must not be used to wholly define a person. Experiencing family violence is
a part of someone’s life amongst many other experiences. Some people may prefer
the term ‘person experiencing (or has experienced) family violence’. Some people may
prefer other terms or may not prefer any particular label or term at all.20