Brophy Family and Youth Services has suspended its Men's Behaviour Change program which sees men gather in groups to talk and support each other in order to change their controlling or violent behaviour.

Team leader of Brophy's family violence programs Rhonda Carlin said although the program was suspended until further notice, facilitators and staff were in weekly contact with male participants.

"We are continuing to provide regular support to ensure they are held responsible and kept in view of our services," she said.

"Family Safety Contact workers are in phone-contact with women daily to maximise safety planning during this uncertain and risky time.

"Our team are providing wrap-around supports to keep men engaged with the Men's Behaviour Change program and the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP). We work closely with CISP to ensure men have support during the court process."

Brophy recently announced it was limiting face-to-face contact in a bid to help stop the spread of coronavirus to the community's most vulnerable.

The south-west's primary youth and family services provider is now offering contact with existing clients through a new reception and triage system, which transfers people directly to the service required.

It is one of several support systems trying to adapt to changes rising from the pandemic.

Justice Service Centre receptions closed to the public last month.

Face-to-face supervision for some offenders is continuing by appointment and where possible, appointments with offenders are being facilitated by telephone, skype or other technologies - unless their case manager has asked them to attend appointments in person.

Unpaid community work sites have been suspended and new at-home based options are being developed.

Existing home-based community work is continuing unchanged.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice and Community Safety said anyone subjected to a community correction order must continue to comply with the conditions of their order.

"Community correctional services staff are working closely with Victoria Police, the courts, the adult parole board and the post sentence authority to ensure an appropriate response to managing offenders in the community," she said.

Western Region Alcohol and Drug Centre director Geoff Soma said clients were still being referred for counselling support through the justice system, but face-to-face contact was limited.

"Our service is continuing to operate with staff working from home, offering support over the phone and providing clients with resources where required," he said.

"We're processing client requests on a case-by-case basis because obviously they are affected through this crisis like everyone else. We're also trying to deal with some of the challenges of recovery."

Mr Soma said the sliding doors non-residential rehabilitation program was now operating virtual group sessions, paired with telephone support.

"It's a different way of doing business but we're trying to meet our clients and patient's needs as best we can," he said.

"Everyone tends to be pulling together to provide support."

Court Network, which offers personal support, information and referrals, has also been put on hold.

Family violence service Emma House is still operating from its Kepler Street office but staff are spread out to maintain the government's strict regulations and people are being encouraged to use their phone service to make contact where possible.

Emma House executive officer Ruth Isbel recently told the Standard that strategies were in place for clients when the only safe option was for clients to attend the service.

"We are working closely with other family violence services to share resources and collaborate around keeping services open and responding over however long this takes," she said.

Warrnambool police family violence investigation unit's Sergeant Jason Dance said family violence offenders needed appropriate rehabilitation and support services in order to reduce the risk of re-offending and ensure the safety of the community.

"Changes due to the virus are posing new challenges that we have never faced before, particularity with the physical closure of offices, but our support services are doing their utmost to support those offenders, should they be released into the community," he said.

"Police are working daily with our support agencies and partners to ensure that the service needs of those respondents and offenders can be met."

A man who broke into a charity shop just weeks after his release from jail for burglary did not have access to after-prison support, a south-west lawyer says.

Morgan Adams told Warrnambool Magistrates Court last week that a 36-year-old Warrnambool man broke into the Koroit opportunity shop and stole a suitcase just 10 days after his release from jail for similar offending.

He said the man was released from jail with "little to no support" and that he found himself homeless due to support services shutting down amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There are currently very few supports open to anyone who has just been released from custody or is homeless, and unfortunately this man found himself in both circumstances," he said.

It is understood that some support and rehabilitation services inside the prison have also been postponed in order to limit face-to-face contact.

Lawyer Ian Pugh said people serving a straight jail sentence were not accessing vital services in order to rehabilitate themselves before their release.

"Face-to-face visiting can no longer occur which has significantly impacted some of my clients as they can no longer access those rehabilitative services," he told The Standard.

"It also means no one is allowed any visitation so prisoners are not seeing their loved ones and that puts a lot of strain on people's mental health."

Mr Pugh said lengthy court delays were also causing anxiety inside the prison.

"I've had clients waiting for their court case who have concerns about the virus breaking out inside the prison," he said.

"They're on remand and they don't know when they're getting out. It's a hard time for all but the police, custody officers, corrections and the courts are all doing a great job under very difficult circumstances."

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