BackThe Centre for Non-Violence (CNV and formerly known as EASE) was established as a feminist collective in 1990.
A group of local Bendigo women formed a collective to provide feminist led and feminist informed responses to women – and in particular young women’s – experience of housing stress and homelessness.
What started as a one worker service, with a vision of providing safe and secure accommodation to young women, and tailored services to meet their needs, soon expanded to respond to what we realised (and always knew): that family violence is the leading driver of homelessness for women. This led CNV to build on our work with young women to grow and develop innovative services in family violence prevention, response and recovery for people who have experienced, or use family violence.
"CNV's history represents a community-led, social movement where women in the community saw a need and created our organisation in the face of opposition and disbelief.”
Margaret Augerinos, CEO
An overview of CNV's history
1990
Established as a young women’s housing service by local women
1994
First funding approved for domestic violence outreach to the region
2000
Developed and implemented the integrated client services division
2005
Developed Loddon Campaspe Integrated FV Consortium
2009
Developed and implemented the prevention and development division
2013
Two purpose-built units for pregnant and parenting young women opened
2014
Partnered in the Identifying and Responding to Family Violence (Early Years) Project
2015
Partnered with Go Goldfields Family Violence Project and HATCH consultations
2017
Relocated head office in Bendigo and expanded across three regional locations
2018
Making aMENds program established
2019
Safe, Thriving & Connected program established
2020
Solidarity Cards codesigned
2021
Orange Door Loddon opened and Making it Right adolescent program developed
2022
Family Violence connector role, Innovation and Impact Unit established and Women with Disability Victoria Loddon Hub Partnership developed
2023
Family Violence Disability Practice Leadership Project implemented
Find out more
About us
The Centre for Non-Violence (CNV) is the leading family violence service in Victoria’s Loddon region.
Our services
We work with women, children, young people, older people and LGBTQIA+ people who are experiencing family violence.
What is family violence?
Family violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour towards a family member or partner that causes fear.