Family Violence Therapeutic

Our Family Violence Therapeutic program supports Aboriginal women and young people who have experienced family violence. The program provides group or individual counselling and uses cultural practice to create healing and build independence. 

Who is it for? 

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women and young people who are currently at risk of family violence or have experienced it in the past.  
• Those currently engaged with a service or program and supported by a case worker. 

How it works

• A MARAM risk assessment is first completed by a practitioner or support worker to see what level of support is needed.
• Every step of this journey needs to be supported by a case manager. This means being available while we do our therapeutic work. 
• For women, there is an optional (but recommended) 6-week online psycho-education program on family violence. This program helps people better explain their current situation and the level of support they may need 
• Counselling sessions run for 6 weeks. These can be done as either group or one-on-one individual sessions.  
• Our therapeutic goals for women include: 
  • recognising the personal impacts of family violence 
  • understanding how respectful relationships look like 
  • understanding how family violence impacts children 
  • learning practical ways to create safety at home 
  • doing our work in a culturally safe space. 
• Our therapeutic goals for children include: 
  • learning ways to express and understand emotions 
  • learning safe practical ways to manage difficult emotions 
  • understanding how respectful relationships look like 
  • growing strong in their sense of who they are 
  • getting involved with cultural and community activities. 

More information

• Family violence statewide support services - www.vic.gov.au    
• Family violence therapeutic intervention providers - www.vic.gov.au 
• Family violence information and resources - www.dffh.vic.gov.au 
• Safe + Equal Find a Service