Support and Safety Hubs

Regional Integration Committees, supported by Regional Integration Coordinators, have been recognised by the Royal Commission as key drivers to “create common platforms to support the integration of the Support and Safety Hubs into the regional family violence systems”. To begin this process on a regional level, the NIFVS Coordination Team have consulted with Family Violence Services and Family Services intake points, and with the Indigenous Family Violence Regional Action Group. Further regional planning will occur on a regional level in 2017.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) has been conducting consultations to develop a statewide concept/framework for the Hubs. The Regional Integration Coordinator and members of the NIFVS Regional Integration Committee attended the DPC consultation held on 21 October 2016 in Craigieburn.

Support and Safety Hubs are a key feature of the future service system outlined in the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations. The Royal Commission recommended that the Hubs would consolidate intake for each of the DHHS areas providing a single area-based entry point into local specialist family violence services, perpetrator programs and integrated family services.

The Royal Commission proposed that the Hubs would replace the current Child FIRST intake points and police referral (L17) contact points for specialist family violence services and men’s behaviour change programs. Receiving police referrals, referrals from non-family violence services and self-referrals, the Hubs would provide risk assessment and safety planning and link people to other support services.

For further information see the State Government Response to Royal Commission into Family Violence website.