Strengthening & Emplowering Families
FAMILY VIOLENCE
The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence handed down its Landmark Report in March . The Victorian Government ������������������������ would implement all of the 227 recommendations . $ 572 million was committed through the State ������������������������������ The spotlight on family violence shone by the Royal Commission and the Victorian Government ’ s positive ����������������������������������� advocates like Rosie Batty ( 2015 Australian of the Year ) and many other courageous women .
We welcomed all of the Report , but especially the overdue recognition that children are the “ silent victims ” of family violence . We were also pleased that our Take Two program was one of only two programs named as needing to be extended help more children .
Supported 155 women and 71 children through our refuge in Ballarat
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Supported 60 mothers and their children in their recovery from family violence
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SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE :
The commitment and resilience ���������������������������� who managed a huge increase in demand without additional resourcing . Our Northern and small Ballarat team responded to 10,411 and 2,089 referrals respectively from the Police through ‘ L17s ’ and another 5,802 referrals from the community
����������������������������� continue to do through the high risk panels , multi-agency triage , outreach with Child Protection and to other locations which women will go to for help , and a pilot men ’ s engagement program
Working with 2,119 women and 1,755 children to help keep them safe and rebuild their lives
Supporting 155 women and 71 children through our refuge in Ballarat
TURTLE PROGRAM
The Turtle Program works with infants and young children soon after family violence incidents , by engaging with children directly and supporting their mothers to be more attuned to and able to meet their children ’ s needs . Over a twelvemonth period , the program assisted over 60 mothers and their children in their recovery from family violence .
Berry Street is now developing proposals to expand this work by including fathers where it is safe to do so and have family violence interventions for young children available across the State .
GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END .... FAREWELL CONNECT FOR KIDS AND OUR ALEXANDRA OFFICE
This year saw us having to close our ������������������������������
In March 2001 , we formed a partnership with The Dara Foundation to look at what we could do to prevent young people dropping out of school early . From its humble beginning , our wonderful partnership with the Foundation and the Murrindindi Shire enabled us to work with the community on the ��������������������������������������� for their children .
Over the years , Connect for Kids acted as a vital centre for the community , an early example of collective impact and also an incubation hub for Berry Street .
It meant that we were already working in , and trusted by , the community when the devastating ����������������������������������� this gave us the opportunity to make ������������������������������������ recovery and healing through the ���������������������������������� and counselling services .
In 2012 , we engaged the Murdoch Children ’ s Research Institute to write up the project so learnings could be shared .
Our most sincere gratitude to the Trustees of the Dara Foundation for their trust and generosity , and to all ����������������������������������� with us .
37 BERRY STREET