Kara Family Violence Service offers free and confidential information and support for people experiencing family violence. These include crisis accommodation, integrated support services and specialist services for children and the LGBTIQA+ community.
If you are experiencing family violence or you’re concerned for someone’s safety and need immediate assistance:
If you require crisis support and information: www.safesteps.org.au
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence our specialist practitioners can give you advice and information about how to discuss your concerns and provide you with appropriate support or avenues for assistance.
Call Kara Family Violence Service 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday on 1800 900 520 or email support@KaraFVS.org.au
section has more information and brochures.
High security refuge. Part of the Victorian Women’s Crisis Accommodation Service.
Support services that prioritise safety in the immediate crisis.
Provision of material aid to address immediate needs.
SAFETY
SUPPORT
EDUCATION
Stepping Forward. A family violence support group helping women to build hope and strength for the future. The group is for women who have experienced family violence and are feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed. The program is facilitated by specialist family violence practitioners.
To find out more or join, please contact Kara Family Violence Service on 1800 900 520 or email support@KaraFVS.org.au
Details for the next group | |
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Starts | Next STEP FORWARD Group is scheduled to start in Term 4 |
Times | 2 sessions over 2 weeks between 10am and 2.30pm. |
Location | The group is located in the Box Hill area – please call to find out more |
Childcare | FREE CHILDCARE is available by prior arrangement |
Refreshments | Lunch, tea and coffee will be provided |
Transport | Close to public transport – assistance with transport may be available with prior arrangement. |
Family Violence Support Group Brochure
Who is the Family Violence Support Group appropriate for?
Who runs it?
The group is facilitated by two of our Specialist Family Violence Practitioners who are trained in family violence counselling and understand the participants situation. Kara Family Violence Service is a specialist family violence organisation providing services to women and children impacted family violence.
What happens in the group?
Is there Childcare?
FREE CHILDCARE will be provided for everyone on site by prior arrangement. This allows the women to take time out, relax and concentrate on their own recovery. Contact Kara Family Violence Service on 1800 900 520 or email support@KaraFVS.org.au to talk about childcare.
How do participants join the group?
All individuals can join the group. Participants can also be referred by Doctors, Schools, Housing Services, Family Services, Private and Government organisations. Those wishing to attend must email or ring Kara Family Violence Service. We evaluate that they are right fit for the group and ensure the safety of all those participating. Ideally participants should attend both four hour sessions but participants are welcome to join the group for one session. Simply contact Kara Family Violence Service on 1800 900 520 or email support@KaraFVS.org.au to make sure you are the right fit for the group and to arrange childcare.
Process?
Simply contact Kara Family Violence Service on 1800 900 520 or email support@KaraFVS.org.au to make sure you are the right fit for the group and to arrange childcare.
Names and details have been changed to protect client privacy.
Suddenly homeless, Vhu* and her four children arrived with absolutely nothing and now here to go.
Vhu, 41 contacted Kara Family Violence Service, saying she was Vietnamese and needed an interpreter. We re-contacted Vhu with a phone interpreter, and she informed us she and her four children had been evicted from her house. Vhu’s husband, following years of abuse towards Vhu and the eldest daughter, walked out of the house three weeks previouslyand had not returned. Vhu’s home was a private rental in her husband’s name and her husband had been issued a Notice to Vacate due to rental arrears. Vhu had no knowledge this was happening. Vhu told us she was currently staying with a friend, and her four children were dispersed amongst other friends. Vhu disclosed she was 24 weeks pregnant but had not told anyone. Vhu had no money and nowhere to go. While Kara Family Violence Service’s core business is specialist family violence services, we work closely with several housing services, and contacted them hoping there may be a vacant transitional property available. Finding safe and affordable housing in Melbourne is incredibly difficult, especially for larger families with a very limited income. Luckily after many phone calls we had success and were offered a property. We were able to reunite Vhu and her children and relocate them to a safe area. Kara House continues to support families like Vhu’s during their tenancy and if needed. Case management commenced, with Vhu’s antenatal care being a priority. Our material aid provision included clothing packs for all the family, home and cultural cooking pack, linen packs and food hampers. Vhu has been linked with Centrelink, and we have liaised with the children’s schools. Using donated funds, Kara Family Violence Services was able to provide laptops for the children to continue remote learning.A children’s assessment has been completed and the summary indicated the children have been traumatised by the abusive environment they had been living in. Medical and counselling appointments have been made for the children. Despite the trauma this family has endured, they are
16 month journey to reunite Matida* and her sons.
For Matida the stress was incredible when her ex-husband took her two boys out of the country. Pregnant and alone, it took a support team to help her reunite with her sons. We first met Matida, 6 months pregnant at the end of 2019, when she was referred to Kara Family Violence Service with her toddler daughter, Rayan. While caring for Rayan and planning for a safe birth, Matida’s focus was on her two young sons being cared for by her mother overseas. As a form of control, Matida’s husband, the perpetrator of the violence and the father of her children, removed her boys from her care and took them overseas. Being separated from her boys, Ibrahim and Jamal, took a huge toll on Matida’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. She struggled to manage the day-to-day care of Rayan and Khalid, and eventually child protection became involved placing the children in care while Matida was admitted to hospital. During this time, Kara Family Violence Service was working away in the background liaising with various services and gathering information on how to return the children to Australia. Because of COVID-19 this became a very long and drawn-out process, and a sense of ongoing frustration and sadness for Matida. With the assistance of an immigration lawyer, the children and their grandmother were given an exemption to return to Australia. While Kara Family Violence Service managed to access funding for plane tickets, there were immigration issues, which then impacted the exemption timeframe, and another exemption had to be applied for. After an exhausting 16-month process, plus 2 weeks isolation in hotel quarantine, and with so much excitement and happiness Ibrahim and Khalid were reunited with their mother, little sister and their new baby brother. With thanks to generous donations, Kara House welcomed the children with new clothes, toys and books. We continues to support Matida and her family in a transitional property
and we look forward to them enjoying a secure and happy future together.
*names changed