Flexible Support Packages (FSP) with Windermere
FSP aim to deliver personalised and holistic responses to assist adult and child victim survivors experiencing family violence to transition from crisis and establish long-term sustainable arrangements to improve their safety, wellbeing, and independence in recover from family violence.
Individualised packages provide flexible brokerage to victim survivors to purchase a range of tailored and practical supports based on their case management/support plan. This may include counselling, wellbeing costs, education, employment related costs, financial counselling, transport, housing stability and establishment costs, and other practical or material needs.
Eligibility:
Family Violence Flexible Support Packages (FVFSPs) are available for victim survivors who:
- Have experienced family violence that has current or ongoing impact
- Are planning to leave an abusive situation or have the perpetrator removed from the home
- Are receiving support from a specialist family violence practitioner or other support service practitioner that is:
- Prescribed as Tier 1, 2 or 3 under MARAM requiring either Intermediate or Comprehensive risk assessment and risk management, and
- Able to provide continuous support, including ongoing risk assessment and risk management to the victim survivor until the FSP (and/or PSI) process is complete.
- Have had an Intermediate or Comprehensive MARAM risk assessment and safety plan recently completed* have a case management/support plan in place which identifies the way in which a flexible support package would support the victim survivor/s.
- *Recency in this context should be either a time period of two weeks or if a new incident of family violence has occurred, whichever is most recent.
FSPs will not be accessible to victim-survivors who wish to continue their domestic living arrangements with the perpetrator of the abuse, with the exception of victim-survivors living with adolescents who use violence and Aboriginal victim survivors.
What FVFSP’s can purchase:
- Safety and security measures – basic security responses including lock changes, installation of security doors, repairs to broken doors and windows, sensor lighting, landscaping; and/or technological responses under the Personal Safety Initiative (PSI) such as safety and security audits, the installation of a home alarm system, CCTV, or a Personal Safety Device (PSD).
- Support for physical and mental health and wellbeing – medical or pharmaceutical costs not covered by Medicare or Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, disability aids and equipment and basic material needs including food, clothing and care packs.
- Therapeutic interventions- family violence counselling, Alcohol and Other Drugs counselling and other forms of therapy.
- Suitable and stable housing – public or private housing debt, mortgage costs, rent in advance, rent arrears, relocation costs, travel costs, furnishings and whitegoods in newly established housing
- Participation in learning and education – school and educational costs, support for travel, kinder/childcare costs and books, equipment and material aids.
- Workforce participation- clothing, uniform, tools and equipment and training costs.
- Financial security and independence – basic material needs, payment of bills (utilities, phone) and debts, financial counselling, and financial services.
- Legal and court costs-general legal advice, migration specific services, assistance with family violence intervention orders, police checks and other legal or court services.
- Support for social engagement and connection with culture and identity – public transport, vehicle purchase and repairs, driving lessons and participation in social, cultural and sporting activities.
Contact Windermere – Sarah Woods
- Phone: 1300 946 337
- Email: [email protected]