Finding into death of BC J

Contributing factors

• ongoing intimate partner violence
• physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• psychological abuse and intimidation
• social isolation
• cultural isolation from both Indian and Iraqi communities
• absence of independent legal advice at Family Violence Intervention Order hearing
• Family Violence Intervention Order did not exclude perpetrator from home
• error in Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme preventing Child Protection involvement
• lack of trauma-informed integrated support
• history of threats to kill
• financial abuse
• persistent harassment and control

Coroner's recommendations

1. Family Safety Victoria review and update guidelines for the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme to require that any risk information significantly altered within three days of being shared is proactively shared with the requesting entity
2. Victorian Government ensure all Specialist Family Violence Courts in Victoria have adequately-funded and resourced specialist legal and non-legal specialist family violence services on site to engage with both affected family members and respondents, including where Victoria Police is the applicant for an intervention order
3. Victorian Government fund further research exploring the link between increased suicide rates amongst women who have experienced family violence
4. Support implementation of initiatives within the 2024-2026 Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy directed at understanding and addressing the link between family violence and suicidality, including initiatives to strengthen suicide prevention capability within the family violence system