When great forces come together, great change is possible. We are proud to partner with many agencies leading the way in domestic violence-informed work.
Department for Child Protection
Adelaide, South Australia
The Department for Child Protection (DCP) in Adelaide, South Australia, cares for and protects at risk children and young people so they can grow up well cared for, connected, and empowered to reach their full potential. DCP works with vulnerable families, other government and non-government organisations, foster carers, and the community to keep children and young people safe and give them the same opportunities as other young South Australians. Using an evidence-informed, strengths-focused, family-centered, and competency-based approach, DCP works to ensure that contact with the child protection system adds value to children and their families.
Domestic Violence Action Centre
Ipswich & Toowoomba, Queensland
The Domestic Violence Action Centre (DVAC) is a not-for-profit organisation located in and around Ipswich, Toowoomba & the Darling Downs, Queensland. Since April 1994, DVAC has been committed to working with communities towards the prevention and elimination of domestic and family violence. DVAC is actively involved in supporting women, young people and children who are experiencing or who have experienced domestic and family violence, supporting men who are actively committed to behaviour change as well as providing information and education to the communities at large. Additionally, DVAC works closely with communities and key stakeholders to develop collaborative responses to ensure safety for women and children and accountability for people using violence.
Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (DCSYW)
Maroochydore, Queensland
The Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (DCSYW) is the Queensland government agency for child protection and violence prevention. DCSYW is dedicated to protecting children, young people and adults from all forms of harm which includes the prevention of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV). Child Safety Service Centre (CSSC) staff undertake statutory casework with families. In DFV cases many staff are trained in the Safe & Together model. In select CSSCs there are Walking With Dads workers who specialise in Safe & Together and support staff to apply the model in their day to day practice.
In DCSYW, the Safe & Together approved trainers comprise the Walking With Dads (WWD) team. They will provide training internal to the Department with scope for this training to include both Child Safety staff and partner agencies. Steve Lock is the Principal Program Officer of WWD.
Stopping Family Violence
Western Australia
Stopping Family Violence is an independent not-for-profit established in Western Australia to drive forward the agenda of perpetrator response and grow the evidence base that supports this work. The organisation works in partnership with women and children’s services, policy makers and researchers to provide leadership in the area of family and domestic violence perpetrator response. SFV is strongly committed to building the evidence base that informs and supports this work through involvement in key national research projects, development of accreditation and evaluation frameworks, training, and knowledge dissemination to support the ongoing evolution toward excellence across the sector.
Mercy Community Services
Brisbane, Queensland
Mercy Community Services SEQ (Mercy) is a Catholic ministry finding inspiration in the Gospel, the charism of Mercy, the life of Catherine McAuley and the traditions of the Sisters of Mercy. Its vision is a world where people, families and communities are strong in spirit, healthy and connected. Mercy supports and inspires people in need to live healthy connected lives within inclusive communities. It accomplishes this mission by providing services in out of home care, family support, counseling, and domestic and family violence. Mercy uses the Sanctuary Model to ensure that a trauma informed approach is the bedrock of its work. One of its services includes “Caring Dads,” a 17-week group program focused on behaviour change for fathers who use violence, power and control in the home. In addition, Mercy provides system coordination to ensure that domestic and family violence services and intersecting services communicate and work together strategically to respond to the community, individuals and families.
Berry Street
Melbourne, Victoria
Berry Street is the largest independent child and family services organisation in Victoria, with significant experience and expertise in family violence service provision and innovation.
Recent initiatives include:
- Partnering in the Multi Agency Triage pilot which incorporated components of the Safe & Together™ Model;
- Being an operational provider in the North East Support and Safety Hub, a new initiative providing a single point of entry for families impacted by family violence; and
- Piloting ‘Restoring Childhood’, a child focused trauma informed service designed to intervene early to redress the impacts of family violence on children and young people.
Berry Street has established a knowledge-to-action centre for improving childhood, aligned to our services and practice. Through knowledge building and sharing, the Berry Street Childhood Institute seeks to enhance outcomes for children, women and families who have experienced trauma and disadvantage by strengthening the capacity of practitioners, services and systems.
Berry Street has made a commitment to implement the Safe & Together™ Model across all our services. Our certified trainers will also be offering training in the Safe & Together™ Model to individuals and organisations through the Berry Street Childhood Institute. For information contact Amanda Kevin-Tidis at 0428 174 077.