FAQs Risk Assessment and Management Framework (RAMF)

The RAMF comprises evidence based information and resources to support services and workers to identify domestic and family violence (DFV), assess risk and respond to risk.

The purpose of the RAMF is to increase the safety of DFV victim survivors, and increase accountability of people who commit DFV.

The RAMF provides consistency in DFV risk assessment and management across the Northern Territory’s diverse service system.

The RAMF enables all services to share a consistent understanding, language and approach to DFV risk. This will help identify DFV as early as possible, and enable services to work together more effectively so people get the help they need.

The RAMF covers identification, screening, risk assessment, risk management (including safety planning), mandatory reporting, referrals and worker safety.

The RAMF includes 9 practice tools, including the Common Risk Assessment Tool (CRAT). It also includes information about DFV risk, impact and prevalence in the Northern Territory.

The CRAT is an evidence based tool which is used to assess the risk of harm for a DFV victim survivor.

The CRAT combines evidence based risk factors, with the victim survivor’s self-assessment of their risk, and the worker’s professional judgement. Once completed, the CRAT provides an assessed level of risk and recommended actions to respond.

The CRAT is also used to refer serious risk cases to the Family Safety Framework where it operates.

Victim survivors of DFV may enter the service system at a number of different points.

Because of this, the RAMF and CRAT are for use by all services responding to DFV including universal, statutory and specialist services.

While different services have different roles in relation to DFV risk assessment and response, every worker in the service system has a shared responsibility to respond, even if DFV is not their core business.

The RAMF is a foundational part of the DFV Information Sharing Scheme. The scheme allows Information Sharing Entities (ISEs) to share relevant information to prevent, assess and manage serious threats of DFV.

The RAMF provides the framework and tools for DFV risk assessment and management, to inform information sharing.

Read more information about the scheme.

The FSF is an action-based, integrated service response to people experiencing DFV who are at high risk of serious injury or death.

The CRAT is the tool used to make a risk assessment and refer a client to the FSF. The CRAT replaces the current FSF Risk Assessment Tool.

ISEs are legally required to align their policies, procedures, practice guidance and tools with the RAMF. This is an ongoing process and will take time.

ISEs may choose to use the RAMF tools as a whole or to align and use their current tools, provided they are consistent with the evidence base.

If your organisation provides a DFV service and wants to apply to become an ISE, complete the application process.

The RAMF provides a uniform approach to DFV identification, assessment and response across the Northern Territory based on the most recent evidence. It is intended to guide and support all services, whether or not they are ISEs, to better identify and respond to DFV.

For services who already have their own DFV risk management tools, policies and practices, the RAMF and CRAT are designed to support the work already done and to provide additional resources.

The RAMF and CRAT includes sexual violence that occurs within a DFV relationship. Sexual violence must be specifically considered in all risk assessment and management, because it is a high risk factor for serious harm and death.

The RAMF and CRAT were developed following a comprehensive consultation process with stakeholders including Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations, non-government organisations, peak bodies, legal services, government agencies, DFV specialist services and universal services across the Northern Territory.

The development of the RAMF and CRAT incorporated the latest evidence on DFV risk assessment and management, including from NT coronial inquests, the FSF review, and national risk assessment principles.

Resources and training are being developed to support workers in using the RAMF and CRAT, and to help services align. Resources are available on the domestic and family violent risk assessment and management page. Further resources will be made available over time.

Contact

Office of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Reduction Policy
Phone: 08 8935 7803
dfv@nt.gov.au