Status:Open, closes 28 September 2026
Who can apply:Not-for-profit groups, first peoples
Funding:$0 – $100,000
The Victorian Government is providing $1.1 million for the 2026-27 Aboriginal Community Initiatives Fund (CIF). This is to support community led projects that educate, prevent, reduce, and respond to family violence in Aboriginal communities across Victoria.
Projects funded through CIF address the five Strategic Priorities of the Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families 10 Year Agreement (2018-2028).
The Community Initiatives Fund supports projects that:
- are Aboriginal led, including Aboriginal led partnerships
- are consistent with the goals and objectives of Action Groups
- strengthen the capacity of local Aboriginal organisations to address family violence
- will provide an ongoing or long-term benefit to the community
- complement existing local community projects or initiatives
- demonstrate partnerships with other government or non-government initiatives
- align with the Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families 10 Year Agreement (2018–2028).
The Community Initiatives Fund aims to support:
- Aboriginal self-determination
- community groups or activities that encourage positive decision-making, leadership skills and sharing knowledge
- innovative Aboriginal-led prevention and early intervention initiatives to address family violence
- delivering positive outcomes which will benefit the Aboriginal community in addressing family violence
- inclusion of all Aboriginal people across Victoria.
The following funding expectations will apply to all projects that receive CIF funding:
- provide an alcohol, drug and smoke free environment
- provide a culturally safe environment free from violence
- volunteers and staff hold current Working with Children’s Checks
- hold appropriate insurance cover, including public liability
- have a positive working relationship with the Dhelk Dja Action Group.
The application process:
- Contact your local Regional Coordinator to express your interest
- Outline your project proposal for the Aboriginal CIF
- The Regional Coordinator will provide the relevant information on specific regional processes
- The Regional Coordinator will provide you with a copy of:
- Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families 10 Year Agreement 2018–2028
- Dhelk Dja Regional Action Group Plan.
Find out more information here
The capability framework outlines the skills and knowledge that specialist sexual assault workers need to deliver effective, safe and trauma-informed support to victim survivors.
This framework describes the knowledge, skills and capabilities needed to:
- work in the specialist sexual assault sector
- meet the diverse needs of victims and survivors. This includes:
- diverse communities and their families
- children and young people
- First Nations communities
- understand the concepts, nature and theoretical basis of sexual violence
- support victim survivors across all stages of engagement. This includes:
- initial response
- therapeutic support
- navigating the legal system
- work with children and young people who engage in harmful sexual behaviour.
It is designed to support everyone working in the specialist sexual assault sector. It is also a useful tool for other relevant sectors.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations that deliver Aboriginal sexual assault support services will define the foundational knowledge capabilities for Aboriginal practitioners. They will reference this capability framework and the work undertaken to document the service delivery model. This aligns with self-determination principles. Using this framework will ensure an informed, capable and culturally responsive workforce.
Access the capability framework here
Expressions of Interest for Safe and Equal’s 2026/2027 Prevention Communities of Practice are now open, closing 27 July 2026.
Communities of Practice are a highly valued approach for strengthening the capability, confidence and wellbeing of practitioners working in primary prevention. Safe and Equal’s Communities of Practice provide a collaborative learning environment where practitioners come together to reflect on opportunities and challenges, deepen their practice and strengthen capability, connections and impact across the prevention workforce. Grounded in the principles of shared and relational learning, our Communities of Practice center reflection, dialogue and peer collaboration to support practitioners to learn with and from one another.
Our Communities of Practice are intentionally designed spaces for practitioners to exchange knowledge, ideas and resources, and to build meaningful professional relationships. Drawing on Safe and Equal’s Learning Together resource, the model emphasises peer learning, collective problem-solving and reflexive practice, supported by skilled facilitation. This creates opportunities not only for practical skill development, but also for deeper insight, personal growth and sustained practice change.
Our Communities of Practice also support practitioners to engage with key primary prevention concepts and challenges. Topics explored may include working in partnerships, navigating systems change, responding to resistance and backlash, and engaging men and masculinities in prevention work. The themes discussed are defined by the group.
In 2026–2027, we are offering five free Prevention Communities of Practice for primarily Victorian-based practitioners. Interstate and international practitioners are welcome to apply, however priority will be given to those based in Victoria. Expressions of Interest close 27 July 2026.
Each Prevention Community of Practice includes up to 25 participants and is delivered over eight monthly sessions. Sessions will run from August 2026 to May 2027, with a break over the summer period. Communities of Practice are primarily delivered online, with some opportunities for hybrid sessions in Naarm (Melbourne). Please see below for further information about the Communities of Practice on offer for 2026/2027 and for information about the selection process.
We know that practitioner time is precious and finding time in your schedule for reflective practice and professional development can be challenging. If you need to provide information to your organisation or management to participate in a Community of Practice, please feel free to download our Communities of Practice Information Sheet for organisations here, and send it to your manager. It contains information relating to our Communities of Practice model, the benefit of attendance for practitioners, and for their organisations more broadly.
Find out more and express your interest here
The government will invest $100 million for family violence prevention and response activities, ending funding uncertainty for organisations in the sector.
The money will go towards refuges, crisis accommodation and trauma-informed counselling recovery programs for children and young people.
The Central Information Point, which provides information about perpetrators so practitioners can assess risks, will receive $23 million of that, and funding will also go towards Sexual Assault Services Victoria to respond appropriately to victim survivors.
Industry experts say the budget doesn’t address the rising rates of family and gender-based violence in Victoria.
Government data from 2024-25 showed family violence survivors waited on average 18 months for housing assistance.
Read more about the budget release here
The Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Survey is now open for 2026.
As a frontline worker, practitioner, policy lead or organisational leader that plays a role in identifying, assessing and/or managing family violence risk in Victoria, we’d love to hear from you.
This year, we’ve refined the survey to make it clearer and easier to complete, while still capturing important feedback. Responses to the survey help us understand how MARAM and Information Sharing reforms are working across the system, and where improvements are needed to support organisations and individuals working with family violence risk and child wellbeing.
The survey is open from 30 March to 8 May 2026 and should take 15 minutes to complete.
Survey link: https://dhhschange.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1RMVJdzgIZggNgi
The anonymous 10–15-minute online survey is open to young people aged 14-18 years and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education.
You can help by sharing the survey with young people and youth and community networks. Every voice strengthens the future of consent and respectful relationships education.
https://www.onyourtermssurvey.com.au
UN Women Australia announces “Balance the Scales” as the official theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, highlighting the urgent need to ensure fair, inclusive, and accessible justice for every woman and girl.
Check out the IWD events happening around Southern Melbourne below:
Balancing the Scales Through Her Story
This International Women’s Day Cardinia Shire Council is celebrating the incredible women who help shape and strengthen our community.
Date: 5th March 2026
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre
Register here
International Women’s Day Breakfast at Springvale City Hall
Everyone is invited to join Killester College for our annual International Women’s Day Breakfast, a much-loved community tradition honouring the achievements, resilience and contributions of women across our city.
Date: 6th March 2026
Time: 6:45am
Location: Springvale City Hall
Register here
International Women’s Day Celebration at Lynbrook Community Centre
Celebrating women through leadership, wellbeing, purpose and community connection
Date: 7th March 2026
Time: 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Lynbrook Community Centre
Register here
International Women’s Day with WHISE and Kara
This International Women’s Day, Kara Family Violence Service (Kara) and Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) are joining forces to explore the power of collaboration across the prevention–response continuum of violence against women.
Date: 10th March 2026
Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Location: Box Hill Golf Club
From 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or keeping an account. The restrictions aim to protect young Australians from pressures and risks that users can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts. These come from design features that encourage them to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing.
Despite law reform and public attention, workplace sexual harassment continues to affect one in three Australian workers. New research shows that directors now face personal liability, and many aren’t prepared.
This report summarises the key learnings from the 2022-24 evaluation of the Connecting Communities program, a partnership program between the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) and Safe and Equal to support the learning and professional development needs of the Connecting Communities network, a network of organisations working with multicultural and faith-based communities to prevent family violence in Victoria.