We provide and fund services for people with a disability who are, or at risk of becoming, involved in the criminal justice system or who have multiple and complex needs
Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative
The Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative (MACNI) is a time-limited specialist service for people 16 years and older, who have been identified as having multiple and complex needs. This includes people with combinations of:
- Mental illness
- Substance abuse issues
- Intellectual impairment
- Acquired brain injury
- Forensic issues.
Often these individuals pose a risk to themselves and to the community.
MACNI's primary purpose is to facilitate better coordination of supports and services to people with complex needs, deliver holistic care and prevent further escalation of need. Participation in MACNI is voluntary.
MACNI is underpinned by the Human Services (Complex Needs) Act 2009. See the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website for more information on the Act.
MACNI is a shared service across the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in partnership with the Department of Justice and Regulation and is managed by us.
MACNI Service provision framework
The Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative (MACNI) Service provision framework December 2017 provides practice guidance to ensure the consistent and high quality delivery of the MACNI services across Victoria.
These guidelines are effective from 1 December 2017 and will be reviewed annually to reflect continuous improvement developments in the MACNI program.
Further information
Contact a Department of Health and Human Services MACNI coordinator in your local area. See the Locations of DHHS office in Victoria page for contact details.
Serious Offenders Coordination
Victoria’s post-sentence scheme is supported by the Serious Offenders Act 2018 (the Act).
The aim of the Act is to:
- Enhance the protection of the community by requiring offenders who have served prison sentences for certain sex and violence offences, and who continue to present unacceptable risk of committing further offences, to be subject to a detention or supervision order
- Facilitate the treatment and rehabilitation of the offenders.
The Act establishes:
- Shared responsibility to coordinate and deliver services to offenders through a coordinated services plan
- The Post-Sentence Authority
- A Multi-agency Panel.
The Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria Police and the Department of Justice and Regulation have shared responsibility to:
- Develop and review a coordinated services plan for each offender
- Provide reasonable assistance and support to each other
- Share information
- Identify and take steps to resolve issues relating to the delivery of services.
Serious Offenders Coordination team
The Serious Offenders Coordination team supports the Department of Health and Human Services, and its funded agencies, to meet the requirements of the Act.
The team:
- Coordinates service responses for the development and review of a coordinated services plan
- Promotes improved service responses
- Supports the Department of Health and Human Services' Multi-agency Panel members
- Coordinates, responds and reports on notices from the Post-Sentence Authority.
Prior to a coordinated services plan being presented to the Multi-agency Panel, the team will contact an area of the department or a funded service. The team will request an update on the services being provided or may request for a service to the client to commence. The team will ask that an Information Request Form is completed and returned by a set date.
Information disclosure and use
Section 284 of the Serious Offenders Act 2018 states who can use and disclose information, and for what purpose.
For a person employed in the Department of Health and Human Services, and a person delivering a service or advice on behalf of the department, information use and disclosure is allowed for:
- Preparing reports, plans or any other documents required by the Act
- Making or responding to an application under the Act
- Preparing and reviewing coordinated services plans
- Delivering or providing services in a coordinated services plan
- Managing an offender.
Further information
If you require additional information email the Serious Offenders Coordination team (email in contacts) or see the related resources section.