Contents Part executive Summary 8

The Network has developed a standardised definition of domestic and family violence homicide and minimum case inclusion criteria. The definition and case inclusion criteria underpin the Network’s Minimum Dataset Collection Protocol (Protocol attached).

We already have this under the ADFVDRN.		The Office of the Ombudsman believes there would be benefits in a uniform, national identification and classification framework for identifying and defining domestic and family violence deaths, including national consistency, quality of reporting, policy development and benchmarking.		Yes, there is benefit in undertaking this work and uniformly classifying Domestic Violence deaths. The National Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network (NDFVDRN) has already progressed this work in relation to the standard national classification of homicides through their Homicide Consensus Statement. The Network is progressing the classification of DV suicide deaths. The Network has also developed a standard definition of DFV homicide and Minimum Dataset Collection Protocol	Yes. These benefits have been recognised by the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network (ADFVDR Network) and efforts have been expended to achieve this via the Homicide Consensus Statement and the national minimum dataset. The benefits of these tools are: national and comparable statistics on the burden of family and family‐violence homicide identification and monitoring of spatio‐temporal trends identification of common risk factors identification of factors unique to particular cohorts development of evidence‐based national family violence prevention policy and programs development of evidence‐based local family violence prevention policy and programs
QUESTION	NSW		QLD		WA OMBUDSMAN	WA CORONER	SA	VIC
1.23Is there value in establishing a purpose specific national secretariat that acts as a repository of information and data about domestic and family violence deaths? If so, do you have a view about where this secretariat should be located?	The Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network would benefit from the support of a secretariat to coordinate the collection and reporting of national data derived from the individual state and territory review processes. It is noted, however, that until those jurisdictions without a death review process have these mechanisms established, the collection and reporting of complete National data will not be possible. If secretarial support was available, it would be best located in a jurisdiction where it can work closely with members of the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network.		Yes, potentially within one of the existing jurisdictional review mechanisms.		See 1.21 and 1.23.	This would best be achieved through NCIS.	The Network would benefit from the support of a secretariat in relations to the project work of the network and the coordinate the collection and reporting of national data. The Network Chair rotates annually and so there is no one place which would be more or less beneficial. Technologically, the secretariat could be housed anywhere there was a Network review mechanism.	If the purpose of the secretariat was to support and advance the work already undertaken by the ADFVDR Network, the Coroners Court of Victoria would support such an initiative. Ideally a secretariat function should be attached to the jurisdiction chairing the ADFVDR Network for the calendar year.
QUESTION	NSW		QLD		WA OMBUDSMAN	WA CORONER	SA	VIC
1.24Is there value in publishing national reports on domestic and family violence deaths that consider recurring themes and actions towards making system improvements?	There is value in publishing national reports on domestic and family violence related deaths which give due consideration to common themes and issues. As noted above, this is one of the key functions of the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network.		Yes. It is likely to bring together the collective wisdom of the different jurisdictions.