Safe at Home

For several years, McAuley has been advocating for an approach to family violence called ‘Safe at Home’ – an early intervention model that shifts the default system of helping women ‘escape’ violence to enabling them to stay at home, while actively disrupting the pattern of violence.

Years of research, collaboration and advocacy informed the development of a Safe at Home trial, co-designed by victim-survivors of family violence, frontline workers and men who have previously used violence.

Not only does this approach move away from victims being saddled with all the disadvantages of leaving – including the loss of communities, schools and workplaces etc – but would significantly reduce homelessness across Victoria.

The current system

Family violence is the single largest driver of homelessness for women in Victoria. In 2022-23, over 23,000 women and 13,000 children who had experienced family violence were assisted by homelessness services (AIHW, 2023). Each year in Australia, 7960 women are returning to live with people who use violence because they have nowhere affordable to live (Equity Economics, 2021)

There is little hope for accessing affordable housing, with the wait time for family violence victim-survivors averaging close to two years (DFFH, 2024).

What does a Safe at Home trial involve?

On 30 May 2024 the Premier of Victoria announced funding to support a Safe at Home trial, as part of the Women’s Safety Package.

McAuley has worked with sector partners to co-design a pilot of Safe at Home. The model is based on research into what works along with input from local professionals and people with lived experience, including victim-survivors and people who have used violence in the past.

Safe at Home offers an alternative for families in lower risk settings, recognising the need for family violence refuges and crisis accommodation will remain for those at higher risk.

The Safe at Home response is designed to be rapid, flexible, and provide wraparound supports that are tailored to the needs of the whole household. Households have access to support and funding over a period of 24 months, allowing support to flex up and down depending on changing needs.

The team will respond quickly to intervene where there is violence and prevent homelessness. Within 48 hours of referral, the team will contact victim-survivors and people using violence to understand individual and household needs and identify initial steps to support safety. Based on the needs of the household members, the core Safe at Home response may include:

• A family violence case manager to establish a safety plan and identify priority support needs.
• A specialist worker to keep the person using violence in view and address their support needs, including alternative accommodation options in the short and medium term.

The support team will draw on a larger integrated team of specialists, including legal and financial experts, housing support, children’s workers, cultural workers, and a community engagement role to link clients with universal and community services and help build community capability to support prevention of family violence.

Police and Corrections will provide dedicated roles to liaise with the team and keep the person using violence in view. A lived experience advisory group will support the team’s focus on victim-survivors.

The trial will be run by McAuley’s long-term partner, Meli, in Geelong who has a depth of experience working with women, children and people using violence.

‘Safe at Home’ research

McAuley consulted with women who have used our services, who have become homeless because of family violence. This gave us valuable information about what really happens on the ground and where things are not working well – as well as whether being able to stay home safely could have been an option. Read more about: Listening to those with lived experience.

Together with Melbourne University we also interviewed frontline workers in family violence and homelessness services, gathering a wealth of insights into how the system was operating. Read what this research found. 

Parity April 2023

A special edition of Parity, the journal of the Council to Homeless Persons, explored the issue and canvassed solutions. McAuley was a sponsor of the edition and contributed several articles:

Listening to those with lived experience

‘It’s in McAuley’s DNA’: opinion piece by Jocelyn Bignold OAM

‘The time if right’: re-imagining ‘Safe at Home’

For further information on the ‘Safe at Home’ project, contact: felicityp@mcauley.org.au