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At Safe and Equal, we work towards a world where everyone is safe, respected and thriving, living free from family and gender-based violence.

About

Safe and Equal is the peak body for Victorian organisations that specialise in family and gender-based violence. We work with and for our members to prevent and respond to violence, building a better future where adults, children and young people are free from family and gender-based violence.

Our purpose

Safe and Equal is the peak body for specialist family violence services that provide support to victim survivors in Victoria.

Our history

Read the history of Safe and Equal, formed from an organisational merger between Domestic Violence Victoria and Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria.

Supporting criminalised women

Victim survivors who have been criminalised experience high rates of family violence and trauma, and the severity and impacts of this violence and trauma can be significant.

The Code of Practice for specialist family violence services

The Code of Practice: Principles and Standards for Specialist Family Violence Services for Victim Survivors (the Code) articulates a set of principles and standards to guide consistent, quality service provision for victim survivors accessing specialist family violence services in Victoria.

Media coverage

This page includes media coverage of Safe and Equal, as well as coverage from Domestic Violence Victoria (DV Vic) and Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV) prior to the merge and rebranding in 2021.

Robyn Stone

Business Partnerships and Engagement Advisor

Robyn coordinates the development and delivery of tailored professional development and capability building products and services.

PreventX – What’s Next?

Hosted by Safe and Equal in partnership with Our Watch, a national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia, PreventX – What’s Next? is the conference for those who want to create change in the community and prevent family and gender-based violence.

Ellen McGregor

Manager, Workforce Policy and Practice

Ellen supports the implementation of state-wide practice frameworks and building the capacity of the specialist family violence workforce.

Tania Rose

Board Treasurer

In her professional career of over 20 years, Tania has led finance, IT and business service functions across the education and health sectors. She is currently Corporate Services Director at Family Planning Victoria.

Maria Dimopoulos AM

Board Chair

Maria is a lauded human rights advocate and champion of diversity and gender equality. She holds extensive experience and expertise, particularly around the rights and meaningful inclusion of women from migrant and refugee backgrounds in policy and system reform.

Meghan Cooper

Prevention Project and Partnership Manager

Meghan leads a team of Prevention Advisors working on prevention policy, partnerships, evaluation and sector development, including the Partners in Prevention Network.

Esther Lee-Scott

Practice Development Advisor- Safety and Support Packages Statewide Coordinator (PSI/FSP)

Esther supports workforce and practice development in the specialist family violence sector as the Statewide Coordinator for Safety and Support Packages; Flexible Support Packages (FSP) and Personal Safety Initiatives (PSI).

Our inclusion statement

Our inclusion statement demonstrates Safe and Equal’s commitment to fostering an accessible, inclusive and equitable workplace and organisation, where differences and diversity are celebrated and affirmed.

Lead + Adapt leadership program

Designed for executive and senior leaders in the specialist family violence, primary prevention and sexual assault sectors, this professional development program puts you at the centre of your leadership journey.

Fast Track Leadership Foundations program

Exclusive to new leaders, our Fast Track Leadership Foundations program supports specialist family violence and primary prevention practitioners to excel in their new leadership or management role.

Cost: $350 + GST (valued at $2,500)

Family violence in an LGBTIQ context

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) people are not only more likely to experience family violence but less likely to recognise, report and receive appropriate support in response.

A message from our CEO, Emily Maguire

The police killing of George Floyd and the resurgence of mainstream media attention on the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and internationally has sharpened our focus on racism, dispossession and oppression in this country.

Nurturing hope during the 16 Days of Activism

To commemorate this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, we asked colleagues from across the sector to share what hope looks like to them, and how they maintain hope in their work to end family and gender-based violence.