The Victorian Government introduced the Mandatory Minimum Qualifications (MMQ) Policy in 2021. The MMQ Policy outlines the qualifications people must hold or be working towards to work as a specialist family violence practitioner in Victoria.
The MMQ Policy was evaluated in 2024 to assess the effectiveness of the policy and its implementation in the first two and a half years of operation.
The evaluation found:
- the MMQ policy is achieving its goals of greater visibility and professional recognition of the specialist family violence workforce
- organisations are aligning their workplace practices with the requirements of the MMQ policy
- although the family violence sector faced significant challenges, including rapid growth in the sector, major system reforms, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, progress has been made
- parts of the MMQ Policy are confusing or hard to action, so changes are needed to simplify and clarify the requirements, and
- more appropriate and accessible qualifications and training pathways are needed, especially for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Aboriginal practitioners, and people in regional and rural areas.
Guided by the evaluation, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) will further consult with Victoria’s family violence sector to update the MMQ Policy.
DFFH is also looking at ways to improve education and training opportunities to support people to achieve minimum qualifications, especially for ACCOs, Aboriginal practitioners, and people in regional and rural areas.
The current MMQ Policy will remain in place while it is being revised. The updated MMQ Policy will be released in late 2025. We will update you on this process over the coming months.
More information
For more information about the MMQ Policy and how it is being updated, visit Mandatory minimum qualifications for specialist family violence practitioners on the Vic.gov website.