More than 70 people from Ballarat's support services, police, the judiciary and legal practitioners have received training to help tackle family violence.
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The first of three multi-disciplinary training sessions was held in Ballarat on Thursday as part of the Royal Commission's recommendation for a more therapeutic response to family violence, which includes specialist courts.
A Specialist Family Violence Court will be in operation at the Ballarat Magistrates Court by the end of the year.
Former commissioner Marcia Neave, who facilitated a panel discussion on Thursday, said she had seen a lot of changes following the 2016 Royal Commission into Family Violence.
"I think the specialist courts are a really positive change and I hope there will be more of them," Ms Neave said.
"I think they are providing faster responses and I think they're helping people to feel that they can be heard and their experiences that they've gone through can be heard."
The courts fast tracking family violence cases is important for victims and perpetrators, Grampians region lead family violence magistrate Noreen Toohey says.
She said fast tracking, which was piloted after the murder of Luke Batty in 2014, meant a contested hearing would be completed within three months of entering the court process.
"This whole fast tracking is about ensuring a witness gives their evidence at the earliest possible time, not two years down the track after numerous adjournments and she also doesn't want to be there. She's worn out by the whole process," Ms Toohey said.
"Of course the results of this, what we're seeing is, more victims are prepared to actually give evidence."
- Magistrate Noreen Toohey
Domestic violence and drug use are two challenges across Victorian courts.
Ms Toohey said drug use was concerning throughout the community and it's impact on the community.
"But I think if you were to look at family violence there's always issues such as mental health, drugs, alcohol. We see that all the time in all matters before the court," she said.
"It might well be where you're looking at something, say, ice use, it might make that physical assault much much more serious because of the nature of how methamphetamine impacts on an offender.
"But it's the choice to be violent. This is what this is all about. That's essentially what family violence is; is why does a perpetrator chose to be violent towards their partner."
Victoria Legal Aid Central Highlands regional managing lawyer Natalie Heynes said the training session was a valuable opportunity for organisations to discuss ways to best approach the challenge of family violence.
"We've increased our understanding of risk assessment and the laws surrounding family violence, and learned about better ways to communicate with both victim survivors and people who use violence," Ms Heynes said.
"The Victoria Legal Aid staff enjoyed having the chance to work with others to ensure we provide the best possible family violence related services in our community.
"It was also a great opportunity for everyone to better understand how the new Specialist Family Violence Court will operate when it commences later this year."
Ballarat senior criminal lawyer Scott Belcher, who was a panellists on Thursday, said Ballarat had been put on the judicial map out of Melbourne.
"Clearly the government recognises the need to not only provide the additional resources and services, but has now placed a greater emphasis on how those services are to be streamlined and delivered with all key court house stakeholders working together towards desired outcomes," Mr Belcher said.
The Judicial College of Victoria's second Specialist Family Violence Court multi-disciplinary training session will be held in October.
