Family Violence support and resources

Everyone has a role to play in preventing family violence, and local government has an important and specific role. We are the level of government closest to community and connect with residents in a wide range of settings.

In June 2024, Council was proud to unanimously endorse the Prevention of Family Violence Policy. The Policy contains a Statement of Commitment to the Prevention of Family Violence that Council now holds itself to. The Policy and Statement were developed in close consultation with community and family violence service providers.

The Statement reads:

Moonee Valley City Council affirms that everyone deserves to live lives that are free from family violence.

Unfortunately, family violence continues to be perpetrated in Moonee Valley. Family violence is a violation of human rights that causes immense and ongoing harm to victim-survivors and the broader community. Council condemns this violence and is committed to developing and contributing to effective prevention efforts.

Council understands that in order to prevent family violence, we must understand it. Whilst anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of family violence, family violence is predominantly committed by men against women, children and other vulnerable persons. 

Preventing family violence depends on changing the conditions that enable the prevalence and severity of men’s violence to occur in the first place. Council therefore joins with regional, state and federal strategies to act on the underlying drivers of family violence, which relate to gender inequality and other forms of discrimination.

Everyone has a role to play in preventing family violence and local government plays a specific and critical role. We commit to developing a whole-of-Council approach to prevention where all staff know the role they can play to prevent family violence through the work they do.

We commit to working with the community and specialist services to strengthen family violence prevention work across Moonee Valley and we will appropriately tailor and resource Council’s prevention efforts to address the reality of family violence in Moonee Valley.

Family violence is when someone in your family uses threatening, controlling and violent behaviour that makes you scared for your own – or someone else’s – safety and wellbeing.

When we say ‘family’, this can include your current or ex intimate partner, but also any family member, carer, guardian, or person you’re in a kinship relationship with.

Family violence is more than just physical violence. It can also look like threats, control, surveillance, demeaning talk – any behaviour from a person that causes one or more of their family members to feel fear or causes a child to witness or be exposed to the effects of such behaviour (see Council’s Child Safety page for more information on our responsibilities to children).

Here are some examples of someone using violence in your relationship with them:

• stopping you seeing family or friends
• calling you names or deliberately making you feel bad
• pressuring, tricking or forcing you to do sexual things
• threatening to hurt you, your kids, family members or a pet
• threaten to take away something you value, like custody of your children or your visa status
• stopping you from practising religious, spiritual or cultural beliefs and rituals
• stopping you having any money
• constantly checking where you are, what you’re doing or who you’re talking to.

No matter what form it takes, family violence is never acceptable. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their family.

‘Domestic violence’ – a more familiar term to many of us – falls within the broader term of family violence and usually refers to the violence used by a person against their current or former intimate partner. We use the phrase ‘family violence’ more often, as it captures more types of violence and reinforces that violence from family members can happen outside of the ‘domestic’ home setting.

This short video by Services Australia explores different ways violence can show up in families, as well as explaining some of the supports available from their service. Find links to more videos and information in the ‘Learn more' tab.

 

It is also important to note that:

• family violence impacts people of all genders
• the majority of family violence is perpetrated by men against women, children and other men
• people’s experiences of a partner or other family member using violence against them is influenced by factors such as sexism, ableism, colonialism, ageism, heterosexism, transphobia and racism. These factors impact the prevalence, type and severity of violent incidents and the quality of response services received by the victim-survivor.

Someone is using violence against me in our relationship:

Council is not a direct service provider of family violence crisis support. If you are in immediate danger, always call triple-zero 000.  You can reach out to these key organisations for support:

The Orange Door is the free central service for adults, children and young people in Victoria who are experiencing or have experienced family violence, and families who need extra support with the care of children. Visit The Orange Door to find which of their 15 locations across Victoria is closest to you or call 1800 271 045 to reach the Western Melbourne office (open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays).

Safe Steps can be reached at any time of day or night for crisis support. They help people in Victoria who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing family violence. Call 1800 015 188 to or you could try their live web chat service available 9am till midnight, Monday to Friday.

1800 Respect is a national 24/7 hotline operated by trained counsellors for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Call 1800 737 732.

Berry Street is one of Australia’s largest independent family service organisations. Services provided include family violence support services, education services, trauma services, out-of-home care, parenting and family services.

For a full list of support services in Melbourne’s West, download the GenWest Family Violence Services Help Sheet or check out Ask Izzy’s search function to find support available right now near you.

For information on putting together a safety checklist to keep yourself and your children safe while in a violent relationship, look at this page from Safe Steps.

Specialist services for different communities:

You can also easily search Safe and Equal for more services to meet specific needs, such as Djirra for Aboriginal women, InTouch for women of migrant and refugee backgrounds and Switchboard for our LGBTQIA+ community.

I want to stop using violence in my relationship:

Help is available. You can reach out to No to Violence if you have concerns about whether your choices and behaviours are hurting others in your family. Respectful relationships support is available from Relationships Australia, who you can reach on 1300 364 277. Men can also access the free and confidential Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491, available 24/7 for support and advice on stopping violence.

I’m worried that someone I know is in a relationship with someone who is violent against them:

Are You Safe at Home is a website with great advice on supporting your friend, family member or coworker who might be in an unsafe relationship. You can download this poster that summarises good approaches to navigating conversations with the person you’re worried about. Watch this short video they put together on how you can begin to offer support by starting a conversation. 

1800 Respect can be called for free counselling after you have supported someone experiencing violence or have ongoing fears for their safety. It is a free national 24/7 hotline operated by trained counsellors. Call 1800 737 732.

Here is some of the important work we do at Council to stop family violence and support victim-survivors, working on the underlying causes, intervening early, and supporting coordination of our support system for victim-survivors:

• Prevention of Family Violence Policy
• 2024/25 Council Plan Initiative: Develop a plan to guide the implementation of the Prevention of Family Violence Policy
• Gender Equality Action Plan
• Gender Impact Assessments
• Child Safe Standards and MARAM framework
• Moonee Valley Family Violence Network: This network is a multi-agency forum comprising representatives from government, non-government, police and community agencies at the local level who share a collective commitment to addressing family violence and improving the safety of Moonee Valley residents. Email communitysafety@mvcc.vic.gov.au if you would like to be involved.
• Preventing Violence Together Regional Network: Council is a part of this network administered by GenWest, which is focused on addressing the underlying causes of family violence and all forms of gender-based violence.
• Family & Children's Services: Council's Integrated Family Services program provides case-management support to families with children from 0-17 years old, living in Moonee Valley. Every family is different, and we work to suit the needs of each family in their home, community and educational settings. Head to the dedicated page to find out more about the support they can offer.
• Women’s Leadership Programs and Drop-in sessions: Council's Community Development team, based at Djerring Flemington Hub, run programs for women. Contact communitysafety@mvcc.vic.gov.au to find out more.

There are many ways to get involved in preventing family violence! Check out Respect Victoria to see all the campaigns happening our state.

If you would like to stay up to date with projects Council is working on:

• Ask to be added to the Community Safety mailing list: email communitysafety@mvcc.vic.gov.au to stay up to date with opportunities to get involved.  
• You can also sign up to Council’s general newsletter Discover Valley View Magazine - Moonee Valley City Council to hear about any upcoming family violence prevention projects Council is undertaking with community.  

• Change the Story is our evidence-based framework to guide a coordinated and effective national approach to preventing violence against women. You can find the Change the Story suite of resources including the overarching national framework and other key documents at Our Watch. 
• Fast Facts on Family Violence: this infographic provides information on family violence statistics, and how we can help to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women.
• Are You Safe at Home Easy English Guide
• How to support someone experiencing family violence (available in 7 community languages
• Find videos about family violence in community languages.