Integrated service responses
Domestic and family violence (DFV) is complex and can have wide-ranging impacts that require responses from multiple services and agencies. Integrated service responses involve all aspects of the service system having a shared understanding and approach to DFV and working together to deliver consistent, quality responses that meet the needs of victim-survivors, their children, and persons using violence.
Integrated approaches require:
- all services across the service system taking a DFV-informed approach
- a common understanding of DFV
- collaboration between services and sectors
- formal and informal communication and partnerships
- strong leadership and a strong ‘authorising environment’
- practices, partnerships and decision-making processes that are shared by all partners.
Delivering integrated service responses to better meet the needs of people impacted by DFV is one of the 3 foundational elements underpinning the Domestic and family violence prevention strategy 2016–26. This approach forms part of the Queensland Government's response to recommendations 9, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82 and 83 in the Not now, not ever report and recommendation 18 of the Women’s Justice and Safety Taskforce released in December 2022.
In Queensland, integrated service responses are guided by the Domestic and family violence common risk and safety framework (the CRASF).
You can visit the Integrated service systems training hub to access our suite of training resources to support your understanding of the DFV integrated service system and the CRASF.
Information sharing provisions support practitioners and service providers to share information about victim-survivors and persons using violence to ensure appropriate actions can be taken to keep victim-survivors and their children safe.
High risk teams
High risk teams (HRTs) are a core component of Queensland’s integrated service response approach. HRTs are coordinated, multi-agency teams that collaborate to provide integrated, holistic, culturally appropriate safety responses for victims and their children who are at high risk of serious harm or lethality.
HRTs consist of officers from agencies with a role in keeping victims safe and holding perpetrators to account, including specialist DFV services, police, health, corrections, housing, courts, child safety and youth justice. There are currently 9 HRTs across Queensland:
- Brisbane
- Caboolture
- Cairns
- Ipswich
- Logan/Beenleigh
- Mackay
- Mount Isa/Gulf
- South Burnett
- Townsville.
As part of the Queensland Government response to the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce recommendations, HRTs will be expanded to Rockhampton, Townsville and Brisbane South over 4 years to 2025–26. Townsville was the first new HRT, commencing operations in July 2023.
Evaluation of the integrated service response trial
Queensland’s integrated service response was first trialled in 3 locations: Logan/Beenleigh (urban location), Mount Isa/Gulf (regional city location), and Cherbourg (discrete Aboriginal community location).
As part of the Queensland Government’s response to recommendation 75 in the Not now, not ever report, an evaluation of the integrated service response trial and HRTs was conducted.
The independent evaluation was undertaken by the Griffith Criminology Institute at Griffith University and completed in July 2019. The evaluation analysed integrated responses and HRT practices and outcomes across the trial locations.
The evaluation found that the integrated service response had resulted in better information sharing (allowing for more informed decision making), enhanced accountability, and increased awareness and monitoring of persons using violence. HRTs were securing faster and more targeted help for people at imminent risk of lethality or serious harm.
Find out more about the results of the evaluation by reading the Summary document (PDF) outlining the evaluation findings.