Is this risky for women?
Safe at Home is based on extensive research and input from experts in family violence. Importantly, it has been co-designed by victim-survivors of family violence, along with people who have previously used violence. They drew on their own lived experiences to help design a support system that will meet the different needs of women, children and people using violence.
Safe at Home aims to provide a fast, flexible response to families who have experienced violence to keep them safe. Importantly, all support services will be coordinated to ensure the safety of family members.
However, Safe at Home may not be suitable for all people experiencing family violence, such as those in very high-risk situations.
What support is provided?
Safe at Home is designed to support the whole household – this includes the victim survivors (usually women and children) and the person using violence.
The support includes:
- A family violence practitioner (case manager) to help victim survivors develop a safety plan and prioritise support needs
- A specialist worker to work directly with the person using violence to ensure they are accountable and to support their needs, including helping to find alternative accommodation in the short-medium term, if required
- If children are present in the household, specialist support services for them to ensure their needs are addressed
- Access to ‘wrap-around’ services such as legal and financial assistance, health needs and home safety upgrades if required.
Who is eligible?
Safe at Home is providing support for women and families living in the Geelong region who are experiencing family violence. Safe at Home may not be suitable for all people, for example, those at very high risk. When you contact or are referred to Safe at Home our team determine whether it is suitable for you.
Does it cost money?
Accessing support through Safe at Home in Geelong is funded by the Victorian Government. There is no cost involved for people accessing the support.
How long does the support last?
The Support can be for up to two-years, and will be responsive to the changing needs of the household over that time. and can be at different levels over that time
Where is Safe at Home located?
Safe at Home practitioners can meet with household members at different locations across the Geelong region to support access to the program.
How is it different to other services?
- There are many different family violence support services in Victoria. Safe at Home is a new approach that is being trialled in Geelong – the main difference is that it:
- Provides coordinated support for the whole household, including the person using violence
- Aims to shift the system away from women and children fleeing violence, instead enabling them to stay safely at home and maintain connections to their community while support services ‘wrap around’ the family to disrupt the violence.
Do you provide home safety upgrades?
Yes. If needed, home safety upgrades can be included in the range of supports accessible through the Safe at Home.
What happens if the woman is in danger?
Risk assessment and safety planning is a key component of the Safe at Home program. Safe at Home will work with other services, such as police, to respond to changing risk if required.
How can I access Safe at Home?
Safe at Home is being run by Meli in the Geelong region. If you think Safe at Home can help you there are to ways you can make contact:
- Ask your current case worker or support service to refer you to Safe at Home
- Contact Safe at Home directly via the ’Contact’ section on the website www.safeathome.org.au
What support is available for the person using violence?
A specialist practitioner will work with the person using violence to link them to services they may need to disrupt their use of violence. This may include access to behaviour change services as well as health, housing, employment and legal supports.
What if the person using violence won’t cooperate?
Safe at Home will still work with a victim survivor and their children, even if the person using violence does not want to engage with a Safe at Home practitioner.
What if the person using violence won’t move out?
If a victim survivor wants the person using violence to move out, Safe at Home will work with available system supports to enable this to happen. This may include work with Police, courts and legal services to provide a coordinated approach focused on enhancing safety to the victim survivor which is responsive to her wishes.
Who supports the child/children?
Babies, children and young people will be provided with support under Safe at Home. A practitioner will assess and respond to the individual needs of each household member and coordinate supports related to their health, education and community connections.
Are children able to stay at home?
Children and the adult victim survivor will be supported to stay at home if safety and stability can be achieved in the home environment.