Family violence service provider Emma House in Warrnambool is still operational despite the roof of its building in Kepler Street caving in.

Emma House executive officer Ruth Isbel said structural engineers would visit the site at 2.30pm and prepare a report.

"We're waiting to see that report, but the building is not secure at present," she said.

"We're hoping we will be able to have some people back in the building sooner rather than later but that will be up to the information provided to us and the advice given."

About 7am it was reported to police that there was damage to the front of the building.

Investigations revealed that the top of the facade had toppled onto the roof, forcing the roof to collapse.

Ms Isbel said the concern was that the facade was unsafe and could be subject to further failure, which could fall on pedestrians.

The building has been barricaded off and emergency pedestrian access provided on the west side of Kepler Street through car parks.

Ms Isbel said it had been a busy couple of months as the fall out of COVID-19 impacted families and relationships.

"We've had lots of contact, not just through police reports. Our numbers have been increasing in relation to contacts," she said.

"People have been seeking advice and information, seeking secondary contacts and we have been assisting people to leave the region.

"Our service is currently even more crucial than normal.

"During pandemics and natural disasters it's well known that family violence increases and we have seen slowly increasing numbers."

Ms Isbel asked anyone seeking support to contact Emma House on 1800 366 238 or 5561 1934.

She said in an emergency people should contact police on Triple Zero (000) or family violence response service Safe Steps on 1800 015 188.

"We are still operational and here to help," Ms Isbel said.

"We're very pleased the collapse didn't happen during the day. This year just gets better and better.

"We are waiting on information from the structural engineer on the stability of the rest of the roof and building.

"At this stage our staff are unable to be in the building and are working from home - which we are used to because of COVID."

Ms Isbel said that face-to-face contact was not possible but may be organised depending on the contents of the engineer's report.

"Our service is completely operational via the telephone," she said.

"Depending on what happens we may have to in the next few days source some other space to see people," she said.

A Warrnambool City Council spokesman said council officers were discussing with Emma House staff the possibility of providing some temporary accommodation so that the vital service could continue.

"We're working through the details of this now," he said.

At 8.45am:

It appears that part of the front sandstone facade has fallen backwards onto the roof, causing it to collapse.

Emma House staff have been banned from entering the offices.

State Emergency Services volunteers have blocked off the area around the offices, fearing the facade may continue to fail.

Warrnambool City Council engineers are being called in to assess the damage.

Earlier: The roof has fallen in at Warrnambool family violence support service provider Emma House.

Police officers attended about 7am Tuesday and found a lot more than just damage to the front two windows.

It appears from the sidewalk that the roof has fallen in, at least in the front part of the building.

The Warrnambool Fire Rescue Service and State Emergency Service were called and are assessing the situation.

It's likely a structural engineer will have to be called in to further assess the damage.

More to come.

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