Keeping Women Safe in their Homes
Keeping Women Safe in their Homes (KWSITH) is a key initiative of the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.
The Australian Government funds state and territory governments and select providers to deliver services to improve the safety of women and their children who have experienced family and domestic violence. Since 2015-16, the Australian Government has committed $34.6 million for KWSITH.
The KWSITH initiative helps women and their children who have experienced family and domestic violence to remain in their homes or a home of their choosing, when it is safe and appropriate to do so. This means women and children can continue to have access to their usual support networks, such as workplaces and schools.
The initiative supports women through risk assessments, safety planning, home security audits and upgrades, and case management. The home security upgrades can vary across the different providers, but can include alarms, security screens and locks, and the use of technologies such as monitored personal safety devices, surveillance cameras, dashboard cameras, and electronic sweeping and de-bugging of homes and cars.
Australian Government funded KWSITH responses in each state and territory are listed below. This is not an exhaustive list of all Safe at Home programs delivered across Australia.
KWSITH in your state or territory
| National |
Contact |
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This program is delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. It is designed to help women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their home of choice. |
saferinthehome@salvationarmy.org Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland 0418 157 102 Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia 0400 983 360 |
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Australian Capital Territory |
Contact |
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Through this program, ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) provides ongoing support to women and their families so that they can stay safe in their homes after they have left an abusive relationship. DVCS works with women to help them identify and access the support and services they need for their situation. |
02 6280 0900 |
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New South Wales |
Contact |
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This program supports women and children leaving domestic and family violence to remain safely in their homes and have the perpetrator removed, providing women stability and allowing them to remain close to their support network and services while still ensuring their safety. |
Visit the Staying Home Leaving Violence website for phone numbers by location |
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Northern Territory |
Contact |
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Keeping Women Safe in their Homes This program provides risk assessments, safety planning, and security upgrades for women and their children to help them stay in their own homes, or a home of their choice, provided it is safe to do so. |
08 8932 9155 |
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Queensland |
Contact |
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Keeping Women Safe in their Homes Technology Initiative This initiative helps women and their children escaping domestic and family violence by providing technology-driven solutions as part of a comprehensive risk assessment and safety plan to support women to remain safer in their own homes. The initiative is delivered at 4 sites in QLD through the:
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Technology Initiative services are available in select regions in QLD. For FDV support services in your area, please visit: Find local FDV support services
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Private Rental Initiative Under the KWSITH initiative, Tenants Queensland provides a dedicated telephone advice line for Queensland specialist family and domestic violence service providers to seek advice, training, and tenancy law resources. |
https://tenantsqld.org.au/dv-toolkit/ Queensland Specialist domestic and family violence service providers can contact: 07 3708 4833. |
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South Australia |
Contact |
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This program assists women who are at risk of homelessness because of family and domestic abuse, by providing free home safety audits and tailored home security packages. Women and their children are also provided with safety planning assistance. |
contact@womenssafetyservices.com.au 1800 800 098 |
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Tasmania |
Contact |
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Keeping Women Safe in their Home program This program is delivered through Safe at Home, the Tasmanian Government's integrated criminal justice response to family violence. Women who are experiencing family violence and are clients of Safe at Home services or services delivered through non-government providers are able to access assistance. |
03 6165 4988 |
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Victoria |
Contact |
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This initiative supports victim survivors to access appropriate and effective technology and security responses that allow them to remain safely in their own homes and communities, as part of a case management response that addresses safety and security goals, and helps manage family violence-related risk. |
Contact Safe Steps, Victoria's 24/7 family violence response phone line, for information and referral 1800 015 188 For additional help and advice please visit the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria. |
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Western Australia |
Contact |
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Keeping Women Safe in Their Homes This program assesses the safety and support needs of women and children. Staff work closely with the WA Police, criminal justice system, and other service providers to reduce or manage the risk posed by the perpetrator and ensure women receive a coordinated response. This program is delivered through five service providers: The Lucy Saw Centre, OVIS Community Services, Pilbara Community Legal Service, Starick Services and The Patricia Giles Centre. |
For FDV support services, including Keeping Women Safe in their Home and Safe at Home services in WA, please contact: Women's Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 007 339 |
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Keeping Women Safe in Their Homes for Aboriginal Women and Children This program assesses the safety and support needs of Aboriginal women and children. Staff work closely with the WA Police, criminal justice system, and other service providers to reduce or manage the risk posed by the perpetrator and ensure women receive a coordinated response. This program is delivered through the following service provider: Wungening Aboriginal Corporation. |
For FDV support services, including Keeping Women Safe in their Home and Safe at Home services in WA, please contact: Women's Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 007 339 |
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