Activity details
Continuing the delivery of the Refuge Redevelopment Program to replace many existing communal refuges with ‘core and cluster’ style accommodation. This includes building new Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation refuges.
This activity is part of a broader activity to provide a holistic approach to meeting victim-survivors’ short, medium and long term accommodation needs and reducing the risks of homelessness for victim-survivors.
Implementation progress update
Since 2016, the Victorian Government has been phasing out the older-style communal family violence refuge model and replacing it with the best practice ‘core and cluster model’, comprising:
- A ‘core’ building with office facilities, meeting spaces and interview rooms for onsite service provision, and group activity spaces
- A ‘cluster’ of self-contained independent accommodation units for victim survivors, each with a private bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms.
As of 30 June 2025, the family violence refuge redevelopment program has replaced 15 of the 17 Government owned communal refuges around the state with core and cluster facilities. The 2 remaining sites are expected to be completed over 2025-2026 and 2026-27.
In addition, the Victorian Government has allocated funding to deliver a further 5 new core and cluster refuges in Victoria, of which 3 are dedicated for First Peoples victim survivors and will be fully operated by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. To date, one of these 3 First Peoples Refuges is operational and planning is underway for the 2 remaining facilities.
More information
- Learn about the National Plan to End Violence against women and children 2022-2032.
- Read the First Action Plan 2023-2027.
- Browse the First Action Plan 2023-2027 Activities Addendum update.