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.”
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
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Employee benefits
Up to $15,860 and above award wages and conditions
Generous leave
Leave entitlements including cultural, pandemic, and above award sick leave
Parental leave
12 weeks paid parental leave after one year of service
Bonus leave
Additional one week bonus leave annually
WFH station
Full ergonomic WFH work station provided
Employee learning
Ongoing learning and development opportunities
Flexible work
Flexible work arrangements
Fruit deliveries
Weekly fruit deliveries
Purchased leave
Purchase leave available
Wellbeing program
Active wellbeing program led by staff for staff
Employee Assistance
Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Respectful culture
Culture of inclusiveness, support and respect