Safe Homes. Safer Futures.

Children and young people accounted for 54% of all victim survivors supported by CNV last financial year. More than 700 children received specialist support—from crisis response through to therapeutic recovery. And for the women and children needing emergency accommodation, they spent almost double the amount of time of an average adult victim survivor, most often housed in motel or hotel rooms—highlighting the urgent need for investment into a safe housing and dedicated services.

CNV’s Safe Homes, Safer Futures campaign calls for a stronger Victorian response across housing, specialist services, early intervention and long-term reform. These responses must include approaches that prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people experiencing family violence.

Family violence can affect children’s safety, health, development, relationships and learning. Stable housing and specialist support help restore security, routine and connection to school and community.

Family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children right across Australia. At CNV we support hundreds of victim survivors requiring emergency and transitional housing each and every year. And the evidence is clear: women with children spend almost double the amount of time in emergency or crisis housing. Last financial year, women with children spent an average of 93 nights in crisis accommodation—compared with 56 nights for adults—often in motel or hotel rooms.

CNV is calling on the next Victorian Government to deliver:

• Safe housing: more purpose-built crisis accommodation and pathways to affordable long-term homes.
• Sustainable services: at least five-year funding for regional and rural specialist family violence services.
• Earlier, coordinated action: long-term investment in prevention, recovery and reform across housing, policing, courts, justice, family violence and child and family services.
• A safer system: coordinated reform across housing, courts, policing, child and family services, and justice.

“Children are not bystanders to family violence—they are victim survivors in their own right. This necessarily means that we need to prioritise their safety and recovery with dedicated investment and ongoing support for specialist services like CNV,” states Robyn Trainor, Head of Strategy and Impact, “When 54% of the victim survivors we support are children, the message is clear: safe, stable housing and timely specialist support cannot wait.”

Safe homes create safer futures.

ENDS.

If you, or someone you know is experiencing family violence, or you are concerned about your behaviour towards your family, help is available.

In any emergency call: 000

• Centre for Non-Violence (Monday- Friday, Business Hours): 1800 884 292
• The Orange Door (Monday-Friday, Business Hours): 1800 512 359
• Safe Steps (24/7 statewide crisis response service): 1800 015 188
• Djirra (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Specialist FV Service): 1800 105 303
• Rainbow Door (LGBTQIA+ Specialist FV Service, 10am-5pm/7 days a week): 1800 729 367

For all media enquiries contact Clare Shamier, Head of Business Development and Advocacy via [email protected] or 0488 281 528