Family & Domestic Violence

We want to help our community live in a safe and protected environment

Are you worried about how you are being treated by your partner or husband, boyfriend or girlfriend, a family member or a carer?

Abuse in relationships, which is also called domestic violence, is any behaviour that causes physical, sexual or emotional harm, or causes you to live in fear. Family violence can affect anyone, regardless of sex, age, race, sexuality, disability, income, gender or lifestyle. However, violent behaviour is most frequently used by men, as a way to exercise power and control over women and children. There are different types of domestic and family violence, including:

Emotional abuse – When someone constantly puts you down or criticises you threatens to stop you from seeing your children, or threatens to commit suicide if you leave the relationship.

Social abuse – When someone prevents you from seeing your friends and family makes you feel guilty about going to work or socialising constantly checks up on your whereabouts.

Financial abuse – When your partner or another family member takes control of your financial affairs when you don’t want them to, or prevents you from having access to money.

Sexual abuse – When someone makes you do sexual things that you don’t want to do. Forcing you to have sex is a criminal offence, even if you are married.

Stalking – When a partner, ex-partner, or someone else follows you around, or repeatedly tries to contact you, even if you’ve said you don’t want this.

Physical abuse – Includes pushing, hitting, throwing objects, driving dangerously to frighten you, or threatening to physically harm you, other people, or pets.

Source: For survivors | Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (dvrcv.org.au)

Our Change Starts With You campaign will help you put your active bystander skills of standing up to gender-based violence to the test.

DPV Health Support Services

At DPV Health we provide a range of support and recovery services and programs for those who use family violence, and for those who are affected by family violence.

Counselling

We provide safe and confidential, individual and family counselling for men, women, and children affected by family violence to help reduce the impact of the ongoing effects of family violence and to heal from traumatic experiences at home.

For more information on our counselling services click here or call 1300 234 263.

Support Programs

The following programs are offered for men wanting to end their use of family violence, to support men to take accountability and work towards respectful and nurturing family relationships.

Men’s Case Management Service

Case management is a free program offering individual support for men aged 18 years and over who want to take responsibility for and change their use of family violence. Case management offers tailored responses for AoD use, mental & physical health, gambling, housing, unemployment and other needs that may increase safety and support motivations for change.

Men’s Behaviour Change Program (MBCP)

Men’s behaviour change is a 20 week group work program for men aged 18 years and over. The program respectfully engages men in dialogue that supports accountability, change and working towards respectful and nurturing family relationships.

There is a fee for this service, please contact the intake coordinator 0407 179 985 or email fvp@dpvhealth.org.au to discuss.

For more information on our Men’s Behaviour Change Program click here or call 1300 234 263.

Our program also provides support for affected family members. Family Support Workers’ offer educational and therapeutic counselling, support, advice, and referral to other services where appropriate.

Free interpreter service available