By Casey Neill
A family violence intervention service has joined Dandenong’s sexual crimes support hub.
From Wednesday 3 May, Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) will provide co-ordinated interventions to family violence perpetrators at the Dandenong Multidisciplinary Centre (MDC).
The MDC was established in 2014 to provide a justice response and support service for survivors of sexual crimes.
Police Minister Lisa Neville announced on 21 April that the centre was expanding to include specialist family violence police and community service responses.
RAV’s specialist family violence practitioners will participate in case co-ordination meetings with Victoria Police, child protection and other services to prioritise the safety and protection of family violence, sexual assault and child abuse survivors.
They will also provide services to family violence perpetrators, including initial telephone contact via the Dandenong MDC and further case work at RAV centres in southern metropolitan Melbourne.
RAV said this approach would prevent further violence while ensuring the MDC remained a safe and confidential environment for survivors.
RAV has nearly 70 years’ experience in providing family and relationship support services, and is the largest provider of Men’s Behaviour Change Programs and family safety contact services in Victoria.
CEO Dr Andrew Bickerdike said RAV welcomed the opportunity to join the centre and provide important family violence support services.
“We look forward to collaborating with partner services at the Dandenong MDC to enhance family safety,“ he said.
“We will provide interventions for, and work with those who use violence, to take responsibility for changing their behaviour.”
