The FDVRT model aims to improve the safety of child and adult victims of family and domestic violence through a collaborative approach that focuses on timely and early intervention following a police call out to a domestic violence incident. There is a FDVRT in every Department of Communities district and in most regions the team is co-located.
The collaborative approach of the FDVRT model includes:
- joint risk assessments using a common framework informed by police, child protection and specialist family and domestic violence workers
- identification of opportunities to intervene early with families experiencing family and domestic violence
- timely responses following a police call out
- responses targeted to client need, identified risk and unique case circumstances
- supported and streamlined client pathways through the service system
- co-ordinated responses between partner agencies
- multi-agency safety planning on a needs basis involving agencies and organisations that have a role in responding to family and domestic violence.
A shared database has been developed to support the operations of the FDVRT including recording outcomes.
Current reforms
FDVRT Operating Procedures
The FDVRT Operating Procedures are being updated to reflect a strengthened response to family and domestic violence cases.
Family Safety Service
The Family Safety Service, comprised of Family Safety Coordinators and Family Safety Support Workers are dedicated to responding to high-risk, high-harm cases of family and domestic violence and are a key link between existing supports and the local community. A Coordinator and Support Worker are currently being embedded into each FDVRT across Western Australia to support their daily operations.
Department of Justice - Adult Community Corrections
Adult Community Corrections officers are currently being embedded in the FDVRTs across WA, through phased implementation from 2024-2028. Their addition will improve information sharing and collaborative practice, including the identification of perpetrators patterns of behaviour and increasing perpetrator visibility to improve family safety.
For further information see:
