Victoria Gives $3.5M to Help 1,700 Women Stay Home Safely

Leaving home shouldn't be the only way to stay safe, and now 1,700 Victorian women won't have to make that impossible choice.

The Victorian government announced $3.5 million in funding today to help family violence survivors strengthen their home security. Women can now access reinforced doors and locks, alarm systems, outdoor lighting, and security cameras without footing the bill themselves.

The program goes beyond physical upgrades. Women in remote and regional areas will receive personal duress alarms, technology sweeps to detect hidden tracking devices, and car inspections to find GPS trackers that abusers sometimes hide.

Premier Jacinta Allan made the announcement at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne. "For those experiencing family violence, safety shouldn't mean losing their home, stability or connections," she said.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Victoria recorded more than 105,000 family violence incidents last year, a 3.2 percent rise from the previous year. Family violence serious assaults hit their highest level since 2016.

The changes reflect how abuse itself has evolved. Technology now gives abusers new tools for control, from hidden cameras to GPS tracking. Coercive control tactics have expanded. High-harm repeat offenders are on the rise.

Nationally, family and domestic violence offenders jumped 8 percent last financial year. That's the largest annual increase since national reporting started in 2019.

The Ripple Effect

The security funding is part of a bigger safety net being woven across Victoria. Another $6.4 million from the Strengthening Women's Safety Package will flow to seven organizations supporting survivors.

These groups help women from diverse cultures and faiths, those on temporary visas, women leaving prison, and survivors with disabilities. Support ranges from food and financial help to transport and temporary housing.

Earlier this year, the government committed $1 million to the Respect Ballarat project after several high-profile deaths of Victorian women. That funding helps 11 local organizations work on prevention and early intervention.

Home means different things to different people, but for these 1,700 women, it will finally mean something it always should have: a safe place to be.