Safer in the Home

Applications should come from a referrer to ensure Safer in the Home is providing the most appropriate response in line with the applicant’s risk.

Referrers can use the following instructions:

• This must include the organisations own family violence risk assessment tool and safety plan. If the referring support service or program does not use a risk assessment tool, there is one available as part of the application form – this must be completed. Safer in the Home cannot assess applications without a completed family violence risk assessment.
• The application must detail a list of tenancy safety upgrades, as 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 (Safer in the Home do not provide or fund onsite property assessments).
• To support the application, you might be asked to provide photographs of requested upgrades showing current condition.
• Landlord permission is required for security upgrades except essential lock changes in situations of family violence (applicants who are homeowners are excepted).
• Email the completed referral form to: saferinthehome@salvationarmy.org.au

Complete the form (pdf)

• Victim survivors all over Australia – with or without children – who are assessed as being “at risk” or “elevated risk” from family violence (low-medium risk)
• Victim survivors who are seeking to remain safely in the home of their choice after family violence, with the implementation of basic security upgrades (subject to landlord or housing organisation approval for non-homeowners).
• Applicants must be referred by a professional in domestic violence or similar role (for example the police), and will be assessed using the Multi Agency Risk Assessment and Management framework.

The program might be suitable 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 from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds wishing to stay connected to and supported by their community.
• Women living with disability in a house that has been upgraded to meet their needs and wish to stay in their property.

• Employees from The Salvation Army.
• Corps officers who support clients.
• Community-based professionals, for example:
  • Child protection workers
  • Community advocates
  • Counsellors
  • Court advocates
  • Family violence workers
  • Generalist case managers
  • Legal representatives
  • Police

The Salvation Army (Victoria) – where Safer in the Home is located use the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) tool to assess the level of risk for applications. Victorian referrals from a specialist family violence service should be accompanied by the MARAM risk assessment as per state legislation.

Applicants experiencing current family violence (and are at immediate risk) should be linked in with a specialist family violence (or generalist support service if no specialist family violence service is available). This ensures their crisis or immediate safety needs (and those of their children) are assessed and addressed (emergency housing, financial, legal or police support).

In cases where a victim survivor is not linked with a specialist family violence agency, a Safer in The Home specialist worker can consult on safety planning and risk assessment.

The program can fund a range of basic security upgrades 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 can provide referral and advocacy support to all women engaged with the program.

Following the client (or agency) request for safety upgrades, we will see the approved works through to completion.

These might 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 (including basic cyber safety education with a security technician over the telephone).

Our remote technology assessment service is provided by G-SEC Security. They are an experienced security services firm who has been managing a range of family violence security-related work for many years.

G-SEC Security have full security accreditation and exceed The Salvation Army compliance requirements.

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 can include:

• 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.

A written report is provided for applicant information only. The report is not forensic level and cannot be used for legal purposes.

Safer in the Home is not funded to provide, repair or install security upgrades such as CCTV monitoring systems, personal safety devices such as safety watches, or personal safety Apps. These are interventions more suitable in the higher risk range and may be considered by a specialist family violence service providers in the applicant's state or local area or possibly through a Victims of Crime application.

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.

• Security screen doors are usually made to order and can take up to eight weeks to manufacture.
• Supply shortages (some materials are subject to delays from international suppliers).
• The client’s geography. Upgrades in remote or rural areas require coordination – generally, there are less appropriate and compliant contractors available.
• Level of engagement with the referred person – our contractors rely on the ability to communicate with the applicant (client contact phone number or email are a requirement or the referrer can be the key contact). Contractors do not use interpreters.

• Our team is based in Melbourne, Victoria and operates in business hours, Monday to Friday.
• We are funded to meet the demand of low-medium risk referrals that do not meet eligibility for the crisis response of a state or local, high-risk, specialist family violence agency.
• For our team to assist, we must receive documented, landlord approval for physical security upgrades to rental tenancies (government, community or private).
• We are not resourced to meet family violence needs, such as safe accommodation, material aid, legal assistance. Women in immediate danger greatly benefit the coordination of a support service to meet crisis needs.
• Women at high-risk will often require CCTV as part of the high-risk response, which we are not funded to provide.

To give feedback on any part of our program, email: saferinthehome@salvationarmy.org.au