Trial of family violence response launched in Geelong

A VICTORIAN-first trial response to family violence that aims to keep women and children safe at home while preventing homelessness has been launched in Geelong.

Family violence is the largest driver of homelessness for women, children and young people across 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.

Safe at Home was developed through years of research and co-design with victim-survivors, frontline workers and men who have previously used violence.

It 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 and faster response times.
• Flexible, longer-term support for up to two years that responds to changing needs.
• A whole-of-household approach through personalised, co-ordinated responses.
• Centrally co-ordinated access to a range of supports including case management, legal and financial assistance, counselling and practical help like obtaining home security upgrades.
• Support for children and young people as separate clients.
• Support and accountability for the person using violence, including help to find alternative accommodation where required, and
• Help to build the household’s economic capacity and prevent homelessness.

The Victorian government is funding the $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.

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.

Diana Connell is a lived experience advisor for Safe at Home.

“I lost my home and my livelihood after fleeing family violence, and for a time I was homeless and living in my car while – if Safe at Home had been available to me and my children it would have significantly reduced our trauma, loss and the long-term consequences we continue to experience,” she said.

“From my first-hand experience of a partner who was violent and dealing with mental health issues, I believe that Safe at Home’s inclusion of early-intervention, specialist support for the person using violence will help change the trajectory for the whole family.”

Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins launched the Safe at Home trial in Geelong in March.

To contact the Safe at Home team, head to safeathome.org.au