The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring people across Melbourne’s south-east have access to family violence and child wellbeing support they need, with the expansion of the Southern Melbourne Orange Door Network.
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams officially opened the Pakenham access point for the Southern Melbourne Orange Door Network, ensuring more people across the region can access the support they need, closer to home.
The Orange Door Network is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence, and families needing support with the wellbeing and development of their children.
It brings together workers from specialist family violence, men’s, Aboriginal and child and family services, to provide coordinated, multi-disciplinary support, including crisis assistance and support, risk assessments, safety planning and wellbeing support.
The Orange Door Network in Southern Melbourne is a strong partnership between Anglicare, Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-Operative, Uniting VicTas, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Wayss and the Victorian Government.
Since opening in November 2021, the Southern Melbourne Orange Door Network has helped more than 14,500 people, including more than 6,300 children. The Orange Door can be accessed by phone, email or face to face in Pakenham and Dandenong, with a site in Cranbourne to open later this year.
Victoria is leading the nation with its work to end family violence, with more than $3.5 billion invested since the Royal Commission into Family Violence – more than every other state and territory combined, and more than the Commonwealth.
The Orange Door Network – a key recommendation of the landmark Royal Commission into Family Violence – has so far assisted more than 217,000 people, including more than 86,000 children, statewide since 2018.
The Orange Door in Pakenham is open Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm. For more information, call on 1800 271 170 or visit orangedoor.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams
“When experiencing family violence, reaching out for help can be the hardest thing a person will do. We are making sure that accessing advice and support is as easy as possible, no matter where you live.”
“We are already seeing the power of services working together to support child and family wellbeing, with thousands of residents accessing the Southern Melbourne Orange Door Network since it opened.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale
“The new access point in Pakenham means local families can access the coordinated family violence, child and family wellbeing services and support they need, closer to home.”
Reviewed 29 April 2022