The Andrews Labor Government is making family violence support even easier to access with the establishment of The Orange Door Network in Melbourne's south.
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams today announced that the region will be serviced by a primary site in Dandenong, along with two additional sites to be established in the Casey and Cardinia local government areas.
With work currently underway with partner organisations to set up access points across the region, the Southern Melbourne Orange Door Network is expected to commence services later this year.
The Orange Door Network is a $448 million Australian-first initiative that provides free and ongoing family violence support services under the one roof.
It brings together workers from across specialist family violence, child and family, Aboriginal and men's services to deliver risk assessments, safety planning and crisis assistance, as well as vital connections to ongoing support such as counselling.
A key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Family Violence - set up by the Labor Government in 2015 - the Orange Door Network will service all 17 Department of Health regions by the end of 2022.
It is currently operating in seven regions across the state, including the Central Highlands, Loddon, Barwon, Inner Gippsland, North East Melbourne, Bayside Peninsula, and Mallee.
Each region has a primary site, complemented by access points and outposts, making it even easier for people to get in-person support wherever they live.
More than 125,000 people have been referred to the Orange Door Network since 2018. It is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. For more information visit orangedoor.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams
"Everyone deserves to be safe at home but for too many Victorians this still isn't the case - we're determined to change that."
"We haven't wasted a moment pushing ahead with our vital reforms - including the expansion of the Orange Door Network in Melbourne's south, which will provide much needed support for those who need it, closer to home."
