‘Just Say Goodbye’ (January 2013 online edition)

DVRCV Discussion Paper No. 8Current risk assessment frameworks focus on risks to the victim of familyviolence. The material outlined here indicates that where a parent is the victim ofviolence from a partner, it is important to extend risk assessment to the safety of thechildren. This is important while the relationship is intact, but also after separation.Family violence death review processWomen’s organisations have lobbied governments to implement family violencedeath review committees in Australia and internationally. Family violence deathreview committees have now been established in the USA, Canada, UK and,more recently, in Australia (Taylor 2008).In Australia, the first family violence death review process began in Victoria in2009. 140 The Victorian Systemic Review of Family Violence Deaths (VSRFVD)examines family violence–related deaths investigated by Victorian coroners toinform future interventions and assist in protecting children and adults fromviolence (Coroners Court of Victoria (CCOV) 2010). The VSRFVD has fivemain aims, which are to:• examine the context in which family violence deaths occur• identify associated risk and contributory factors• identify trends or patterns in family violence–related deaths• consider systemic responses to family violence• provide an evidence base to support the formulation of prevention focusedcoronial recommendations aimed at reducing both fatal and non-fatal formsof family violence.All family violence–related deaths identified from 1 January 2009, includingthose of children killed by family members, are subject to review (CCOV 2010).The VSRFVD is led by the State Coroner of Victoria and assisted by theCoroners Prevention Unit (CPU) situated within the Coroners Court ofVictoria. A reference group has been established to advise on systemic issuesand opportunities for prevention within the family violence service system.The VSRFVD is a valuable development and has the potential to contributeto our understanding of filicide, and to make recommendations for systemicchanges which may prevent further deaths from occurring. The Coroners Courtof Victoria has access to substantial information about these deaths, includingpost-mortem reports, medical records and police interviews with perpetratorsand witnesses. It also has the power to conduct further investigations and tohold inquests into these deaths.140 The Victorian Law Reform Commission made a recommendation to implement a Family Violence Death ReviewCommittee in their Family Violence Review (2006).86