The refuge will provide short-term emergency accommodation for those in crisis.

It's understood once a site is secured by the Department of Health and Human Services and a builder is appointed, a timeline for project completion would be established.

South-west elder Lenny Clarke said he welcomed any progress to protect women and children from violence.

Mr Clarke, who has sat on the Koori Court for 20 years, said the government and community needed to look at the bigger picture to address family violence.

"We need a holistic approach because a band-aid solution doesn't work," he said.

Between 2019-20 there were 615 incidents of family violence recorded by police in Warrnambool.

In November the state government announced a Family Violence Support and Safety Hub, Orange Door, would be established in Warrnambool and it is expected to be up and running within the next 12 months. A state government spokeswoman said they were pushing ahead with their "unprecedented reforms so that home can be a safe place for all Victorians".

"A critical element of this is the rollout of the Orange Door Network, which will bring a range of experts under the one roof to provide appropriate support, whenever and wherever it's needed - including in Wimmera South-West," she said.