This document strongly incorporates experiential knowledge from victim survivors who contribute through statewide advisory groups, policy feedback, lived and living experience (LLE) roles, and direct service feedback to the Chief Psychiatrist's Office. It acknowledges those lost to family violence and emphasizes that LLE staff are highly likely to receive disclosures due to trusting relationships with consumers. The framework explicitly centers victim survivor agency and decision-making participation throughout risk assessment and management processes.

This document extensively draws on practice wisdom from mental health and family violence professionals. It incorporates clinical expertise through specialist family violence advisors, Family Violence Champions, medical staff leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. The guidance includes practical implementation structures, clinical review processes, documentation examples, and reflective practice opportunities. It emphasizes secondary consultation, supervision models, and community of practice approaches, demonstrating accumulated professional knowledge from frontline practitioners working at the intersection of mental health and family violence.

This document is grounded in research and evaluation evidence, citing specific studies showing family violence victims are 2.8 times more likely to experience mental illness and 3.2 times more likely to have major depression. It references Victorian research linking one-third of suicides to family violence, draws from MARAM's 5-year evaluation findings (noting tick-box assessment concerns), and incorporates evidence-based risk factors. The framework explicitly uses "evidence-based" risk assessment tools and structured professional judgment approaches.