Family violence perpetrator focused screening and risk assessment: identifying current practice and future opportunities

Chief Investigators: Professor Silke Meyer (Griffith University), Dr Nicola Helps and Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon,

Other project members: Dr Tess Bartlett, Ms Simone Tassone (formerly No to Violence), and Commissioner Peter Martin (Queensland Corrective Services)

About the project

Australia has implemented substantive domestic and family violence (DFV) reforms in recent years. While the identification, risk assessment and management of victim-survivors has increasingly been embedded across service system responses, there is scant understanding and practice in relation to perpetrators of DFV. Men using DFV often have diverse service system contact for co-occurring issues. However, their use of DFV frequently remains invisible, constituting missed opportunities for risk identification, assessment and management, and effective referral pathways.

This mixed-methods study examines current screening and risk assessment practices for DFV perpetration in service systems that frequently encounter men who may be using DFV, including mental health, alcohol and other drug, corrections and child protection services. Results show significant variation in screening and risk assessment practices as well as practitioner attitudes across service areas. Specialist DFV training for practitioners and organisational leadership that prioritises responses to DFV are critical to implementing screening and risk assessment protocols for DFV perpetration across service areas.

Project aims

This mixed-methods study examines current screening and risk assessment practices for DFV perpetration in service systems that frequently encounter men who may be using DFV, including mental health, AOD, corrections and child protection services. The research sought to critically examine the current state of knowledge and practice relating to DFV perpetrator-focused screening, risk assessment and management across different practice areas.

This research was guided by four overarching objectives:

• to identify current DFV screening perceptions and practices by frontline practitioners responding to male clients across different non-DFV specialist service areas (including mental health services, AOD services, child protection and corrections);
• to identify current DFV risk assessment perceptions and practices by frontline practitioners responding to male clients across different non-DFV specialist service areas, including mental health services, AOD services, child protection and corrections;
• to examine whether and how current screening and risk assessment practices around DFV perpetration with men accessing non-DFV specialist services translate into information-sharing and referral pathways to coordinate risk management, monitoring and relevant support options for men using DFV; and
• to identify policy and practice implications arising from this research to improve identification of and responses to potential perpetrators of DFV when accessing non-DFV specialist services with other presenting issues that frequently intersect with DFV, including mental health concerns, problematic substance use, child welfare concerns and other offending behaviour.

Project design

The research project used a two-stage mixed-method design, including a survey (stage 1) and focus groups (stage 2). A total of 663 valid survey responses were received. While this research was initially designed to incorporate a national survey with a follow-up case study component focused on Victoria and Queensland, the survey was predominantly completed by Victorian and Queensland practitioners.

Of the total survey sample, 532 participants (80%) were Queensland-based practitioners. Focus groups were conducted virtually and involved predominantly Queensland government departments and one Victorian based focus group. 39 practitioners (31 practitioners in Queensland and 8 practitioners in Victoria) were engaged through the second stage of data collection. The focus groups provided the opportunity to examine preliminary survey findings in greater depth.

Project findings

The research findings build the Australian evidence base around DFV perpetrator focused screening and risk assessment practices and opportunities. Key findings included:

• screening and risk assessment of male clients varies and remains limited overall;
• specialist DFV training increases confidence in and likelihood of screening; and
• organisational leadership and individual attitudes shape screening and risk assessment practices.

The findings are primarily focused on evidence gleaned from Queensland practitioners, with some insights from Victoria specifically exploring current DFV reforms in AOD and mental health service settings.

Outputs

Media Articles

• Fitz-Gibbon, K. and Helps, N. (2023), ‘We’re missing opportunities to identify domestic violence perpetrators. This is what needs to change’, The Conversation, 2 February.
• Galvin, D. (2023). ‘Screening offenders 'critical'. Pakenham Berwick Gazette, 1 February.