This Alexis-Family Violence Response Model (Alexis-FVRM) comprises three main components: (i) a family violence specialist (key) worker who is embedded within a police unit, (ii) a coordination team, and (iii) an executive group. The family violence key worker is responsible for supporting women, children and offenders, and their engagement with relevant services (e.g., drug and alcohol services, mental health services), while police are responsible for case management and the criminal justice response. The mixed-methods evaluation will generate knowledge regarding the efficacy of coordinated police-social-service responses to family violence and identify recommendations for improvement.
The Alexis-Family Violence Response Model (FVRM) was originally piloted in the Bayside area of Melbourne, with initial evaluations (conducted by RMIT University in 2017 and 2019) finding general support for the model. For example, during the pilot period, there was an 85% reduction in family violence recidivism for Alexis-FVRM clients (Harris, Powell, & Hamilton, 2017). Interviews with professional stakeholders indicated positive perceptions of the model, with some suggestions for refinement (Hamilton, Harris, & Powell, 2019).
A follow-up evaluation, conducted in 2020, examined whether Alexis respondents used violence against others outside of the pilot catchment zones. It found that 51% of respondents had no further police callouts to family violence (L17s) recorded in Victoria. The remainder had L17s against other affected family members and/or against the same affected family member in an area outside of the pilot catchment zone, however, their average number of L17s was still lower than before Alexis-FVRM involvement (Harris & Hamilton, 2020). Following the general success of the pilot, the Alexis-FVRM was expanded to include multiple policing regions in the Southeastern metropolitan corridor of Melbourne and is currently active across three police divisions in Victoria.
The current project aims to extend previous evaluations by exploring the effectiveness of the model in other areas across Victoria. It aims to focus on the following core research questions:
- What are victim-survivors’ perceptions of the Alexis-FVRM? Is it helping to connect families with relevant services and genuinely reduce violence in their lives?
- Which demographic and intervention variables are associated with family violence recidivism (as measured by the number of L17s post-Alexis-FVRM intervention)? Who is the Alexis-FVRM model working for and why?
The evaluation will also generate further knowledge regarding the efficacy of coordinated police social-service responses to family violence more generally and shed light on any recommendations for improvement.
