A new reviewing process designed to help Government Agencies learn from deaths, near fatal incidents and accidents occurring in the context of domestic and family violence is to be established.
Announced by the Minister for Women, Yvette Berry, legislative amendments allow for a Domestic and Family Violence Death Review to be set up to look into domestic and family violence-related deaths as a connected group, not just as isolated events.
Ms Berry said the Death Review would examine the wider context in which domestic and family violence-related deaths occurred, the escalation of violence and the responses provided by Government and service systems.
Commissioner for Victims of Crime, Heidi Yates said the establishment of the Death Review was crucial to ensuring the ACT had the opportunity to identify and fix system gaps that could minimise the likelihood of further deaths.
“Domestic and family violence is a problem that requires complex, coordinated responses across Government, non-government services and community,” Ms Yates said.
“The new model will maximise the ACT’s ability to learn from deaths, near fatal incidents and accidents that occur in the context of domestic and family violence,” she said.
Ms Yates said she was pleased that the proposed Death Review structure provided for a flexible and collaborative approach.
The Commissioner said the Review would provide the best chance of learning how to tailor services, laws and practices to prevent violence and meet the needs of domestic and family violence victims.
Ms Berry said that by taking a system-wide perspective, Death Reviews could make recommendations to improve practice in relation to policy, procedures, legislation, systems and services.
She said the Reviews could also make recommendations on data collection and management and public awareness campaigns.