Safe at Home – a Victorian-first trial response to family violence that aims to keep women and children safe at home while preventing homelessness – was launched last week. Source: McAuley.
Natalie Hutchins, the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, launched the program in Geelong on Friday.
The Victorian Government is funding the innovative $6 million, three-year trial in the Geelong and Barwon region, which is being led by McAuley Community Services for Women in partnership with local community service provider Meli.
Family violence is the largest driver of homelessness for women, children and young people in Australia. Nationally, 61,270 women and 39,753 children were assisted by homelessness services in 2023-24 after fleeing their homes due to family violence.
Developed through years of research and co-design with victim-survivors, frontline workers and men who have previously used violence, Safe at Home is a rapid-response, early-intervention approach that aims to shift the default system of helping women escape violence to providing holistic services to keep them safely at home while disrupting the violence.
Safe at Home aims to achieve long-term system change through earlier intervention, faster response times and flexible, longer-term support for up to two years that responds to changing needs.
Geelong was selected for the trial because of the high demand for family violence and homelessness support in the region, its suitability for testing a prototype that can then be scaled to other areas, and Meli’s expertise in delivering integrated community services for local families.
McAuley chief executive Jocelyn Bignold said new thinking was needed to address family violence.
“Too many women and children are becoming homeless due to family violence – in the current housing crisis, and with family violence occurring at alarming rates, it’s time to think differently and actively change the system to support them to stay safe at home,” Ms Bignold said.
“Years of research, collaboration and co-design have gone into Safe at Home, and we are excited to trial this innovative approach to support people in Geelong and shift the default system of women leaving to one where they can stay in their own homes safely and remain connected to their community.”
Details: www.safeathome.org.au.
FULL STORY
Victorian-first family violence trial launched in Geelong (McAuley)
