In his first annual report, monitoring the 10 months from January 1, Mr Cartwright found aspects of the government’s approach to family violence reform were “highly risky”.

Though it had “commenced a lot of activity” since the Royal Commission into Family Violence handed down its findings in March 2016, Mr Cartwright said the government had done so “without the aid of a live and up-to-date overarching schedule” – an approach he worried might lead to “piecemeal implementation that reinforces fragmentation and siloes.”

“The government needs to stop thinking about reform as implementing the 227 recommendations and instead return to the designed outcomes articulated in its own 10 Year Plan,” Mr Cartwright said.

Centre for Non-Violence chief executive Margaret Augerinos said the resources the government had invested in responding to family violence had been fantastic, and were much needed.

“We’ve been able to do so much more,” she said.

She, like the monitor, felt there was really good work being done.

Ms Augerinos also shared Mr Cartwright’s concern the government was rushing to deliver on its promises.

”I don’t get a sense at the moment that there’s a whole plan,” she said of the government’s approach.

“The government needs to get a really strong sense of how things connect up in a whole-of-systems level.

“It would be great if we got a bit of a blueprint for our region.”

Mr Cartwright said the government’s whole-of-reform planning had been insufficient.

“I expected the foundational work to be much more advanced by now,” Mr Cartwright said.

“If urgent planning is not undertaken, implementation of the reform may fail to achieve the outcomes and ambitions of the Royal Commission and the government’s own 10 Year Plan.”

The monitor recommended a central office be established to manage the reform package holistically.

“The government needs to be confident… that the right decisions are being made by the right people at the right time, based on targeted, reliable and useful information,” Mr Cartwright said.

Women’s Health Loddon Mallee executive officer Tricia Currie said the organisation valued the long-term strategy of investment in family violence reform.

“We feel deeply encouraged by the investment occurring at the state government level,” she said.

The monitor said the government’s commitment to deliver a future where all Victorians were safe, thriving and living free from violence was not in question.

He also recognised ending family violence and improving outcomes for ‘victim survivors’ were clearly among the government’s core objectives.

“The reform process is an enormous task and so much has already been achieved by countless dedicated people across government and the family violence sector,” Mr Cartwright said.

“But it is evident much more work needs to be done.”

Suggested areas of focus in his report included a systemic approach, managing reform, and effective planning.

Loddon Campaspe Centre Against Sexual Assault chief executive Kate Wright said the overall commitment and action taken by the state government to address family violence was impressive.

However, she found the risk Mr Cartwright raised of “piecemeal implementation that reinforces fragmentation and siloes” to be particularly concerning.

“Service system fragmentation and siloed funding have been at the heart of what has historically undermined good outcomes for survivors of family and sexual violence,” Ms Wright said.

“For real change to occur, we need a slowed down, planned and systemic focus by government.

“As a leading service provider we believe reform would deliver sustained and community level change if it was undertaken in a more collaborative way.”

The monitor, too, said the government would likely have to pause or slow down some areas of the reform to prioritise critical planning work.

“It is not possible to carry on delivering services, implementing reforms and planning all at the same time in a climate of increasing demand,” Mr Cartwright said.

“While I acknowledge the harm caused by family violence requires urgent action, this urgency must be balanced with planning and ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the reform and the best possible outcome for victim survivors.”

The state government has welcomed the monitor’s report, and said it did not shirk from the challenges outlined within the 56-page document.

“The Family Violence Implementation Monitor plays an important part in keeping us on track to achieve our promise to the women and children of Victoria and we thank him for his ongoing work,” Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings said.

“We will not waste a single day working towards our goal of ending family violence in Victoria.” 

The state government expects to have completed about 70 per cent of the 227 recommendations made by the Royal Commission by the end of this year.

Sixty-three of the recommendations have already been implemented. 

“We’ll continue to work hard each and every day to deliver the change that women need,” Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins said.

Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards believed the community was now much more aware of family violence.

“I’m really proud of the work we have done in this space,” she said.

“I am confident the Minister for Women will take note of the [monitor’s] recommendations.”