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.
This survey will ask you how well you or your organisation understands the Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework, the Information Sharing Schemes, and related supports. MARAM is a system-wide model for all professionals in services that interact with adults and children who have experienced family violence or are using family violence. Together with information sharing schemes, MARAM aims to ensure people affected by, experiencing, or using family violence get an appropriate, consistent, and capable response, no matter where or how they engage with services.
Why complete this survey?
By participating in this survey, you will help us understand:
- How well different professionals and sectors have aligned their policies and practices with MARAM.
- Whether authorised professionals proactively share information to assess or manage family violence risk and/or promote the safety and wellbeing of children.
- How the Victorian Government can better support organisations to align to MARAM and use and understand their information sharing authorisations.
Domestic and family violence is not acceptable under any circumstance. It is a crime in Australia.
Domestic and family violence is any conduct that makes you fear for your or your family’s safety and wellbeing. There are different types of domestic and family violence. It may be directed at you, your family, pets or property. No matter what it looks like, you have the right to a safe environment in Australia.
We understand that seeking help can be difficult. If you are experiencing domestic and family violence, you are not alone. There is support available, regardless of your visa status.
You and your family do not have to remain in a relationship where you fear for your or your family’s safety to stay in Australia.
Resources available to help in multiple languages.
This research explores the use of intimate partner violence among Australian men, including factors that may reduce the likelihood of such behaviours. A public health approach is taken that considers the power of improving men’s health and wellbeing in relation to preventing intimate partner violence.