How to use

This outcome relates to building individual resilience and self-confidence and increasing protective factors against an individual’s radicalisation to violent extremism. Individuals who feel a strong sense of worth and are well connected to society (positive relationships with family and friends) are likely to be more resilient against negative anti-social influences that may lead them down a pathway of radicalisation. A lack of a sense of belonging to mainstream society and connectedness to social institutions such as schools can result in individuals seeking alternative avenues to develop a sense of identity. A CVE program may aim to improve self-efficacy (capacity to cope), increase the level of connectedness an individual feels towards his/her local community, or encourage positive behaviours and attitudes towards self, the local community and the wider Australian community.

This outcome is concerned with the level of engagement, feelings of connectedness and commitment towards mainstream society, and the degree of social support an individual experiences. This outcome can also refer to a lack of access to resources and opportunities that would allow people to participate fully in mainstream society. Subjectively, it can relate to whether people perceive themselves to experience this lack of access.

This outcome is concerned with building resilience and capacity within a community around issues relevant to CVE. This is based on the assumption that cohesive communities are resilient against violent extremist influences, as people in these communities feel a greater sense of belonging and acceptance. Low levels of trust in government can see people becoming disengaged. CVE programs may be aimed at an individual or at certain population groups and neighbourhoods to build social cohesion or community capacity.

CVE programs may aim to address the ideologies that underpin the anti-Western rhetoric and messaging that violent extremist groups use to justify their actions. They may also aim to address broader social issues such as poor inter-communal relations, or negative racial or other stereotypes, which may be pre-conditions for radicalisation. Extremist messaging can come from a number of sources, including social media.

The intentions of an individual to join a violent extremist group can include a range of cognitive and behavioural indicators. Understanding intentions of joining a violent extremist group can provide insight into the tipping point towards radicalisation.

To ensure individuals at risk of radicalising to violent extremism are diverted and do not engage in violence, it is necessary for the community to have both the capacity and motivation to identify and report individuals at risk. To be able to do this, the community needs to be aware of violent extremism and related issues and be willing to report suspicious behaviour and voice concerns.

Awareness and knowledge of violent extremism and CVE-related programs is important to ensure community members know how they can best assist in tackling violent extremism. A willingness to challenge radical extremist views is important, which is linked to a willingness to support diversity within a community.

Understanding the types of diversion-related services available, where they are located and at which groups, they are targeted is important in identifying if there are gaps in support for individuals or groups at risk of radicalisation. Measuring referrals provides an assessment of the level of demand, as well as an indicator of public awareness.

Commitment to participate in a CVE program covers participation and completion rates as well as the nature of that participation e.g. highly engaged vs passive.  Intervention services could include a range of assistance, some of which could be labelled as CVE-specific, while other services may be more generic and part of a mix of approaches.  Capabilities to deliver interventions cover funding, staffing levels, current demands for existing services and the skills and experience of staff.

Programs targeting convicted terrorists or radicalised offenders should aim to rehabilitate and reintegrate this cohort. Services can be provided in custody and in the community. Programs may be CVE-specific and non-CVE specific. Willing participation in intervention programs is essential to their success, with rehabilitation and reintegration encompassing a number of measures.

Extremist offenders released into the community can include individuals who have been charged for a terrorist offence or have been identified as at risk of radicalisation due to certain behaviours or associates. Peers and associates can have a negative influence on their behaviour when released from prison, helping to reinforce personal grievances and an extremist ideology.

This outcome is concerned with program design and implementation, encompassing organisational capacity to deliver CVE programs.  It is important that agencies understand the various drivers of violent extremism to ensure that their service addresses a mix of risk factors for radicalising to extremism. How violent extremism and CVE are understood within an agency will have an impact upon their commitment and capacity to deliver initiatives.

This outcome relates to assessing the total number of CVE programs based on key principles of evidence-based policy and practice. This includes (1) using research evidence to inform policy and practice within an organisation, (2) including stakeholder perspectives in decision-making, (3) understanding ‘what works’ for your service users/program target groups (e.g., evaluating programs/services), and (4) utilising research evidence related to the delivery of initiatives to similar target groups.

This outcome relates to the capacity of agencies to collaborate and share information and knowledge. This includes opportunities for knowledge sharing between policymakers and external experts e.g. facilitating forums, workshops, seminars, conferences; and knowledge infrastructure that makes research and evaluation reports available.

This outcome relates to networks, agencies and stakeholders working together to build government and community capacities to deliver CVE programs. CVE interventions rely on partnership approaches because no one agency or group will be able to address the causes of violent extremism on their own. Hence, robust networks and partnerships are relevant to the capacity to tackle violent extremism.

Agencies working in partnership to counter violent extremism need to communicate a clear and consistent message about their programmatic responses. This outcome relates to the capacity of agencies to deliver a clear and consistent message around CVE policy. For CVE messaging to have an influence, the mode of message delivery must be relevant both in language and content to the target audience.