Integrated Family Violence Services

To initiate a new approach to family violence in Victoria, the Government is providing an additional $35.1 million over four years. The Victorian Government statement, Changing Lives: a new approach to family violence in Victoria sets out in detail the commitment to respond more effectively to family violence.

In Victoria a new system will be established that will better protect women and children and reduce family violence over time. A key aspect of this new approach involves the police, justice and human services working together to develop an integrated system to respond to family violence.

The new approach to family violence builds upon the Women's Safety Strategy: a coordinated approach to reducing violence against women, which was developed in 2002 and sets the principles and policy directions for addressing violence against women in Victoria over a five-year period. A Statewide Steering Committee provided advice to Government on the development of an integrated response in Victoria. The report Reforming the Family Violence System in Victoria: A report developed by the Statewide Steering Committee to Reduce Family Violence was released in 2005.

The additional funding to be managed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) will focus on a faster response to incidents of family violence, 24-hour referral and support, improved case management, additional counselling and support programs and the provision of a range of accommodation options.