CONCERNS have been raised about a proposed family violence safety hub based in Horsham to service Warrnambool.
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At a community forum held in Warrnambool, an advisor for the Wimmera South West Area Integrated Family Violence Partnership said the family violence safety hubs would replace specialist services for intake points for all family violence referrals.
South-west’s principal strategic advisor Kelly Dufty said the state government was allocating one family violence safety hub per region.
“We’re spending a lot of our time at the moment advocating that that won’t work,” she said. “As it is funded at this time it would be one hub, so government is listening to us but the funding hasn’t changed yet.”
The Wimmera South West Area Integrated Family Violence Partnership covers 10 local government areas and 56,000 square kilometres.
The hubs were part of recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
A state government spokesman said 17 Support and Safety Hubs were being established across the state to keep women and children safe.
“Family Safety Victoria is currently working with service providers to identify locations for the next tranche of hubs, with further announcements to be made in coming months,” he said.
The hubs have begun staggered operations since the start of the year at five launch sites, including Barwon, Mallee, Bayside Peninsula and Inner Gippsland.
According to the state government plan, Ending Family Violence, the network of hubs would provide people with access to the support they want and need to be safe, recover and thrive. “They will work with people and families to understand their risk, needs and preferences, and to plan the best response,” the plan stated.