Domestic Violence

Facing Up is a 20 week men's behaviour change support group for men who want to stop being abusive within their family relationships.

Facing Up is for courageous and determined men who want to move beyond their familiar destructive patterns and instead create safe and respectful relationships.

Living Beyond Abuse is a 9 week support group for women who have experienced domestic or family violence.

Being a part of the group allows women to meet other women in similar situations, support each other, improve their self-esteem, reduce self-blame and explore options as they seek to rebuild their lives and find hope for the future.

Pathways to Parenting is an 8 week course for parents with children in out-of-home care, or at risk of being in out of home care.

For parents who want to build healthier relationships with their children, the program gives parents the opportunity to openly share their stories and experiences, deal with issues of grief and loss, look at how to repair what went wrong and explore being the parent they want to be.

We wholeheartedly believe that positive relationships have power to transform lives.

Our clinically trained staff provide counselling, relationship support programs and training in a range of specialised areas. We stand by our clients through their complicated life circumstances, including times of family separation, divorce, adolescence, depression, domestic violence, sexual abuse and suicide. This work is underpinned by the belief that each person is unique, loved by God and worthy of respect, dignity and inclusion. By respecting this individuality, we create safe environments where personal wellbeing can thrive.

BaptistCare HopeStreet provides supported accommodation to women and children who are escaping domestic violence and seeking to rebuild their lives.

It can take years to recover from the experience of living in distress every day, terrorised and vulnerable through manipulation, control and fear, and the women living with us will often spend the first few months trying to rediscover a sense of safety for themselves and their children, while also finding a new school for their children, and possibly seeking training or employment for themselves.

We come alongside each woman, offering individual counselling as well as a range of ongoing educational, financial and parenting programs tailored to meet their needs.

We also help our clients to access government and legal support, particularly for those women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Each child attends our Break Free program, run by our specialist children’s counsellor, who supports them as they overcome the distress, sense of loss, and lingering grief experienced as a result of witnessing or being victim to domestic and family violence. The program also gives children assistance with tutoring and education.

If you are in an urgent domestic violence situation and requiring emergency support, please dial 000, DV Line on 1800 656 463, Link2Home on 1800 152 152 or 1800 RESPECT.

Our No Interest Loans, free from interest, fees, charges or penalties, are for women who have experienced domestic violence, and are rebuilding their lives.

Women who are victims of domestic violence, without access to money or any financial security, can feel trapped and unable to leave an abusive relationship.

Many women who do leave are forced into homelessness with their children, have debt from their former partner and are unable to access safe housing or afford rental payments. No Interest Loans can be used for a variety of costs including buying new bedding and furniture, moving costs, vehicle repairs or registration, buying children’s books or uniforms, medical and dental costs, as well computers, for women who are seeking employment.

Break Free is an early intervention program for primary school aged children who have experienced domestic and family violence, which each of the children who arrive at our supported accommodation participate in.

One of the immediate challenges facing the children is that they often feel punished by the loss of home, friends, school, support and pets. They have also been exposed to significant trauma, violence and chaos.

Over time, the children build relationships with the workers who become their role models and they start to feel safe to talk. In addition to counsellors, caseworkers and an Early Education teacher, the program engages specialists including an Art Therapist.

Break Free teaches the children about family violence, how to deal with feelings – particularly anger - and the importance of healthy relationships.

The sessions deliver what every child needs – fun – through activities such as art and creative projects, games and kicking a ball around with a positive male role model, all with the goal to helping children move beyond the trauma they have experienced.