LocalKind is urging the NSW government to legislate a Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) and Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS), similar to that in Victoria. 

Put simply, FVISS and CISS keep victim survivors safe and perpetrators accountable. It was found that failure to share crucial information with frontline workers can have catastrophic consequences for victim survivors of family violence, resulting in the Victorian government introducing this scheme. We are asking the NSW government to make the same changes that allow for workers in Domestic and Family Violence to have access to the information they need to effectively keep victim survivors safe, and in some cases, alive. 

The lack of information sharing means that those who are at the frontline of supporting survivors often do not have all the information needed to create comprehensive and effective safety plans. Without access to critical information held across different services (police, child protection, health, and specialist family violence providers), frontline workers are frequently required to make safety plans based on incomplete or fragmented information. This creates significant risks, and results in warning signs or patterns of violence being missed. 

LocalKind is an organisation committed to supporting and empowering people escaping domestic violence, our practitioners are facing significant challenges due to the absence of robust information sharing frameworks in New South Wales. As advocates attempting to build effective safety plans and provide the best support possible, the lack of access to vital information as offered by schemes in other states, such as Victoria, is a critical barrier. Enacting legislation in NSW similar to the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) and Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) would enable LocalKind to deliver safer, coordinated and sustainable support to victim survivors of domestic violence. With this scheme, practitioners would be able to identify risks earlier, reduce re-traumatisation and collaborate with other services more effectively.

The Victorian model has not only proven successful in increasing the safety and support for family violence survivors, but it has also been instrumental in reducing incidences through timely and coordinated responses.

We urge the NSW government to consider the overwhelming benefits and implement a similar model. The adoption of a Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme and a Child Information Sharing Scheme in NSW would be a powerful step toward a safer community for all, enabling organisations like LocalKind to fulfil their mission effectively and protect those in need.

Join us in our call to action. Sign this petition to show support for the implementation of these vital information sharing schemes in NSW.