
Safe, Thriving and Connected (STC) is a therapeutic family violence recovery program for victim/survivors of family violence in the Loddon Campaspe area.
Safe, Thriving & Connected
STC is delivered by the Loddon Gender Equality and Violence Prevention Consortium, which is made up of the Centre for Non-Violence, Annie North Women’s Refuge, Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health Centre, Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria, and Women’s Health Loddon Mallee.
STC provides a range of trauma-informed and evidenced based therapeutic services to support recovery from family violence. This includes individual counselling, dyad (parent/child) counselling and therapeutic groupwork.
Eligibility / Referral Guidelines
Clients that meet the following guidelines are eligible for the Safe, Thriving & Connected program.
Experience of Family Violence
Adults, children, and young people who are victim/survivors of family violence (current or historic).
Safe from Elevated Risk
Safe from elevated, serious and imminent risk of family violence. Agencies mandated under MARAM legislation must provide a complete MARAM risk assessment with all referrals before intake will proceed.
Therapeutically Ready
Adults, children and young people who have stable living conditions and can commit to regular therapeutic sessions. STC does not accept referrals for clients with high levels of service-involvement.
Not Requiring Case Management
STC does not provide case management and will not accept referrals for clients with unmet risk management, housing, drug and alcohol or other case management needs.
Secure Online
Referral
Complete a secure online referral here:
Adult Referral
Child / Young Person Referral
Mandated Referral
Self Referral
Service Locations
STC clinicians are based at the Centre for Non-Violence, Annie North Women’s Refuge, Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health Centre, and Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria.
Appointments are offered in Bendigo, Echuca, Castlemaine, Macedon Ranges, Maryborough and Kyabram.
For any clients who face obstacles in attending face-to-face appointments, we can arrange remote therapeutic sessions including via phone and video.
Guiding Principles
Safety is at the core of our work, with therapeutic supports integrated within specialist family violence risk assessment and safety responses.
We ensure perpetrators are in view and accountable, utilising Safe and Together and MARAM frameworks.
We are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive service to all victim/survivors of family violence. STC welcomes people from all communities, including those who identify as LGBTIQ+. Interpreters are available for culturally and linguistically diverse community members.
We support victim/survivors to reclaim their sense of self, tell their story in strengthening ways, repair parent/child relationships ruptured by family violence, and increase feelings of solidarity and connection with others.
Downloads
Information for Referring Agencies
Detailed overview of guidelines, services, referral pathways, principles, and contact details.
Program Brochure - Arabic
DL Brochure explaining the Safe, Thriving & Connected program in the Arabic language.
Program Brochure - Dari
DL Brochure explaining the Safe, Thriving & Connected program in the Dari language.
Acknowledgements

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where we work. We pay our respects to Elders and community members past and present.

The Safe Thriving and Connected program is supported by the Victorian Government.

STC is delivered by the Loddon Gender Equality and Violence Prevention Consortium: Centre for Non-Violence (lead agency); Annie North Women’s Refuge and Domestic Violence Service; Women’s Health Loddon Mallee; Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria; and Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health.