Berry Street family violence and restoring childhood programs were accredited after staff completed training and processes were improved to ensure inclusivity.

Research shows people in the LGBTIQA+ community experience family and intimate partner violence at the same rates as people in heterosexual relationships, but are less likely to seek out support.

Berry Street family violence program manager Denise Sheridan said Berry Street saw intersectional and inclusive practice as a right, not a privilege

"We have gone through a process to ensure we are inclusive as we can be and we have sought the training required to support the LGBTIQA+ community," she said.

"We have had a few clients from the community come through, but it is about building that trust.

"The community is very guarded as to where they present for support. I feel there is quite a few victim survivors out there waiting for a safe space to open up for them."

Respect Victoria data shows six in 10 LGBTIQA+ people experience violence or rejection from family members, with parents or siblings being the most likely perpetrators.

Violence in LGBTIQA+ relationships looks similar to heterosexual relationships, but other forms of violence have also been identified.

RELATED COVERAGE: New campaign calls for respect to prevent LGBTIQ+ family violence

Rainbow Health Victoria resource Pride in Prevention says homophobia, biphobia and transphobia can be used as a means to assert power and control.

Revealing or threating to reveal the sexual or gender identity, birth-assigned sex or HIV status of a partner can also be used by perpetrators.

For trans and gender diverse people, forms of violence can include withholding finances for medical services or items for expressing gender identity and targeting of gendered body features during violence.

Perpetrators can also focus on features associated with an individual's birth-assigned sex and say that a transgender person is not a 'real' woman or man.

Berry Street project manager diversity and inclusion Susanne Prosser said it was a two-and-a-half year journey to achieve Rainbow Tick for Berry Street family violence and restoring childhood programs.

She said it had a positive impact on both LGBTIQA+ staff and clients.

"We did a review of where we thought we were at, developed multiple work plans over six standards and worked through hundreds of actions," Ms Prosser said.

"It is things like making sure our intake processes are safe and inclusive for everyone: when we are taking down client data we are able to ask people in they are part of the LGBTIQA+ community.

"It is updating documents and website to say LGBTIQA+ people are welcome... and a review of policy and training for staff.

"It is quite a transformational process for people. It does ask us to change the way we work."

Child and Family Services (Cafs), WRISC Family Violence Support and Grampians Community Health have also achieved Rainbow Tick accreditation.

Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee principal strategic advisor Dr Jess Cadwallader said the region was on the way to being fully resourced to support LGBTIQA+ clients.

"We as a sector continue to pursue Rainbow Tick accreditation for those not yet accredited," she said.

"We look forward to working more with the LGBTIQA+ community to continue to improve our connections and responsiveness to their needs."

RELATED COVERAGE: WRISC offers safe support for LGBTIQ victims of family violence

Ms Prosser said Berry Street would continue work to maintain Rainbow Tick accreditation for the programs but also to achieve it for the entire organisation.

"The teams will continue to undergo workforce development, we will continue to review and make sure new staff are trained," she said.

"We will be reviewed in 18 months to make sure we are still on track. People can be confident we are going to continue this work."

Berry Street is part of a coordinated response to family violence through the Orange Door.

For support call 1800 219 819 or email cha@orangedoor.vic.gov.au.

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