Safe at Home

General

Safe at Home is a major whole-of-government initiative developed in response to family violence within Tasmania.  Government agencies, in consultation with other key stakeholder groups, have developed an integrated service delivery system built around the principle of primacy of safety of the victim.

Safe at Home has two key elements:

• Managing the risk that the offender might repeat or escalate their violence; and
• Implementing strategies to enhance the safety of victims of family violence.

The initiative is intended to achieve a reduction in the level of family violence in the medium to long term and, in the shorter term, improve safety for adult and child victims as well as changing the offending behaviour of those responsible for the violence.

Safe at Home Project Presented with the 2008 Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Award - Read more >>>

What is Family Violence

Family Violence means any of the following types of conduct committed by a person, directly or indirectly, against that person’s spouse or partner (this also includes ex-spouse or ex-partner):

• Assault, including sexual assault;
• Threats, coercion, intimidation or verbal abuse;
• Abduction;
• Stalking;
• Attempting or threatening any of the above; and
• Economic abuse;
• Emotional abuse or intimidation;
• Breaching an existing order.

The Family Violence Act, 2004 provides greater explanation of these terms.

Police Response to Family violence

The Family Violence Act, 2004 is the legislative basis under which Tasmania Police operates in matters of family violence.  The Act provides police with the authority to intervene in family violence incidents.  Tasmania Police applies a pro-arrest, pro-prosecution policy in relation to family violence.  In appropriate cases police may also issue a Police Family Violence Order or make application to a Court for a Family Violence Order.  Orders are made to increase the safety of victims.

A major focus of the Safe at Home initiative is to support adult and child victims to enable them to remain in or quickly return to their own home in safety wherever possible.

Victim Safety Response Teams (VSRTs)

Police Officers throughout the state have received specialist family violence training in order to enable them to provide an enhanced service to victims of family violence. 

Launch of the Victim Safety Respose Teams

In addition, each of the 4 Police geographical districts has a dedicated Victim Safety Response Team.  Members of these teams are able to provide a range of services that will support victims in crisis situations and improve their safety.  Members of VSRTs liaise with other service providers in order to ensure an integrated, coordinated response is provided to victims.

The 24/7 Family Violence Response and Referral Line 1800 633 937

Family violence incidents can now be reported through the above crisis line, as well as through the 000 line in emergency situations.  Those calls requiring an immediate response to a family violence incident will have a police intervention team dispatched.  Those not requiring an immediate ‘safety’ response are referred to appropriate counselling, information and support services.

Counselling Support

The Department of Health and Human Services provides professional and specialised workers through the Family Violence Counselling and Support Service (FVCSS).  New services include:

• Information on family violence and its impact upon adults and children;
• Individual support and counselling for adult and child victims of family violence; and
• Group work programs for victims and affected children.

The counselling and support services are available through a telephone counselling service, individual or group counselling sessions, and as an outreach service.  There are offices in Burnie, Launceston and Hobart and appointments can be made to service clients in other areas.

Office hours are weekdays 9am – 5pm.  An extended-hours service operates on weekdays until 11pm and on weekends and public holidays from 4pm until midnight.  All services are free.

Victims Support Services

This is a free service for victims of family violence.  Court Support Officers are available in each region of Tasmania to provide support to victims.  Their role is to assist family violence victims through the legal and court processes, to provide relevant information to clients and refer them to services such as Legal Aid.

Legal Aid

Legal representation and advice is available through Legal Aid to all eligible victims of family violence.

Aboriginal Family Violence

The ya pulingina kani Working Party provides Safe at Home with expert advice on issues of concern to the Aboriginal community.  A dedicated Aboriginal Court Support Officer has also been appointed and is attached to the Court Support and Liaison Service.