Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services Program
Responsible government
- New South Wales
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Improve support and service system responses
- 17 Collaborate across services, sectors and workforces to ensure responses to women affected by domestic, family and sexual violence are coordinated, meet women’s needs, avoid women having to retell their story and promote their recovery.
What are we doing?
The Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services (IDFVS) program is a multi-agency, integrated and coordinated response to domestic and family violence among high-risk target groups and in targeted communities. The program delivers coordinated services through multi-disciplinary teams, or through clear referral pathways, and provides support, information, case management and referrals.
The program empowers women to keep themselves and their family safe, by:
- Assisting them to stay in their home, or devising a safety plan if they choose to leave
- Supporting people to pursue the prosecution of someone who has abused them
- Helping to connect children with the right therapeutic support.
What have we achieved so far?
The IDFVS program operates in 11 locations across NSW.
An evaluation of the IDFVS Program conducted by University of NSW researchers in 2018 found:
- IDFVS workers’ expertise and knowledge of DFV meant that clients’ needs were better understood
- Clients felt listened to and understood
- Clients were appropriately connected with local services
- Clients appreciated the flexibility, kindness and consideration of service providers, and
- Clients were helped to make the first steps with trusted, local providers to overcome the difficulties leaving a relationship with DFV.
The Greater Sydney COVID-19 Delta outbreak in July 2021 has had the greatest impact in eight LGAs of concern, leading to tighter restrictions in south west and western Sydney. Half of these LGAs are serviced by IDFVS services and providers in these locations have needed to ensure they can adapt to COVD-safe service provision, while maintaining continuous service as an essential service for the safety of women and children. Several providers have reported rising demand and complexity in the circumstances and support needs of clients accessing IDFVS services at this time.
What is next?
Several evaluation recommendations related to improving program management systems and data have been implemented.
What difference will we make?
The intended long-term outcomes of the IDFVS program are:
- communities do not tolerate domestic and family violence;
- the rate of domestic and family violence falls; and,
- children, families and communities are healthier, safer and more resilient.