A new service to help victims of family violence more easily access support is expected to be introduced in Ballarat next year.
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Victorian Acting Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Martin Foley said in a statement an Orange Door would be opened in central Ballarat in the first half of 2020.
The facility will provide a single point for a range of services including family violence, child protection, legal, financial and other services, allowing intervention before victims reach crisis point.
The project was originally announced in Ballarat in October last year with an expected opening date in early 2019.
"This is complex reform and we want to take the time to do it right," Mr Foley said in the statement when asked about the reason for the delay.
"The Orange Door brings together core services to help navigate a complex system and connect people to the support they need, in a secure, welcoming, child-friendly facility where safety is paramount."
Child and Family Services Ballarat deputy chief executive Wendy Sturgess previously told The Courier there had been a lack of integration of family violence services in the past.
"The Orange Door will be a focal point where people know to go and seek help," she said.
Five Orange Doors have been built so far across Victoria, with 12 to go.
More than 50,000 people have been referred to the existing facilities.
The creation of Orange Doors follows recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
More than half of the royal commission's 227 recommendations have already been met, while work on others is underway.
Speaking to The Courier in Ballarat last fortnight, former commissioner of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, Marcia Neave, said the Orange Door was a positive outcome of the royal commission.
"Information that is held by different departments can be pulled together so you can get a better safety assessment," Ms Neave said.
"So for example, you might have a child protection matter, you might have other criminal charges, you might have a mental health issue and the hubs can give this information to the central point so you have a much more complete picture of what the story is.
"Whereas I think in the past, what happened is courts often got only a little bit of the story. The little bit of the story they got might not have been that terrible, but when you put it into context, hear all the other things that happened and you know this person has a serious problem or they have had many previous criminal charges, you can assess risk much more so it keeps people safer."
WRISC Family Violence Support executive officer and chair of the Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee Libby Jewson said the message is there is no 'wrong door'.
"No matter where they go there will be a consistent safe response. It is about a co-ordinated response from all the key agencies," she said.
Principal strategic advisor of the Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee Jess Cadwallader said the service was becoming embedded across the state.
"It will be an access point and a way into services that people recognise easily statewide," she said.
The Victorian government has so far invested $2.7 billion towards the implementation of these recommendations, according to Mr Foley.
Visit orangedoor.vic.gov.au/ for information of family violence services in Ballarat.
- with Erin Williams