The program is available to women in Australia – with or without children – who are assessed as being “at risk” or “elevated risk” from family violence and are seeking to safely remain in the home of their choice after family violence. 

The program may also be a more appropriate choice for:

• Aboriginal women who want to stay connected to their family, community and remain on country
• Women living in remote and rural communities where they experience limited access to specialist family violence services
• Women with disabilities whose houses have been upgraded to meet their specific needs
• Women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds wishing to stay connected to and supported by their community.

• All Salvation Army employees and corps officers can refer clients
• All community-based professionals including family violence workers, generalist case managers, counsellors, police, court advocates, child protection workers, legal representatives, community advocates, for example.

For best response, it is best if women referred to the national Safer in the Home program are receiving case management through a specialist family violence or generalist support service. This ensures that their immediate and ongoing safety needs, and those of their children, are assessed and addressed.

In cases where a woman is no linked with a specialist Family violence agency, a Safer in The Home specialist worker can assist with a risk assessment and safety planning. All Victorian referrals from a specialist Family Violence service should be accompanied by the MARAM risk assessment as per legislation.

The program offers a range of strengths-based interventions to support women who have experienced family or domestic violence to remain safely in their homes and connected to their communities.

Safer in the Home will undertake comprehensive family violence risk assessment and safety planning with women affected at intake point (where a specialist family violence service is not engaged).

The program can provide referral and advocacy support to all women engaged with the program.

Following the client or agency’s requested for safety upgrades at the property that can include:

• Re-key of existing locks to essential external doors
• Lock change to essential external doors (where there is damage caused by forced entry, this might include a lock change and structural repair to frame)
• Security lighting (which may include rewiring by an electrician)
• Security door (prohibitive costs mean one security door can be considered)
• Compliant utility lock (if there has been evidence of tampering by person using violence)
• Remote technology assessment

Our supplier, G-SEC Security is an experienced security services firm who has been managing a range of security-related work for many years.

A remote tech sweep is a check of a victim survivors’ devices (depending on number of family users on shared home network). This is performed by a qualified technician, using remote access software and is not at a victim survivors’ home. A telephone appointment with a cyber security is available and includes:

• Connection to the client's laptop, wirelessly to scan for spyware.
• Support to clients to navigate their mobile phones to protect against tech abuse. (password protection and cyber safety planning).

Safer in the Home cannot provide security upgrades such as CCTV monitoring systems, personal safety devices such as safety watches, or personal safety apps. If these services are required, seek referral to the appropriate family violence brokerage program in your state or territory.

Safer in the Home is not funded or equipped to respond in a crisis time frame. Situations requiring immediate risk management and safe accommodation must be referred to the local family violence specialist service. Delays in tenancy upgrades can be due to:

• Supply shortages 
• The client’s geography (remote areas require coordination)
• Engagement with the referred women – service relies on ability to contact the victim survivor (client contact phone number or email a requirement).

• Complete the current referral form. This must include the organisation risk assessment tool and safety plan. If you do not use a risk assessment tool, contact Safer in the Home for a risk assessment form or tool, we can provide support for non-specialist services.
• Detail a list of tenancy safety upgrades, identified by the victim survivor in priority order. We can accept police property assessment or any other professional property assessment that the victim survivor has (we do not fund property assessments in the low-risk range).
• To support the application, provide photographs where possible of the requested tenancy upgrades showing current condition.
• Landlord permission is required for all upgrades except essential lock change in situations of Family Violence.

Next steps

Email the completed referral form to: Saferinthehome@salvationarmy.org.au

Referral to include:

• Photographs to support works. If not possible, a detailed description of what is required, for example new security light to front of property or replacement of existing and damaged security light.
• Landlord permission to escalate the turnaround of the upgrade response.
• Risk assessment (essential).