Based in Shepparton, the new Orange Door site will unite family support, victim survivor and perpetrator services to ensure a collaborative and holistic response to family violence.
The Goulburn network is a partnership between local service providers including Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, FamilyCare, Primary Care Connect, Nexus Primary Health and the Victorian Government.
Opening the new site today, Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams said Orange Door was a key centrepiece of the state government's responses to the family violence royal commission.
"The royal commission ... told us our service system was fragmented and disconnected and that we needed to be joined up to make sure we were better meeting the needs of victim survivors," she said.
"That's really what the Orange Door is all about."
This comes as family violence rates in Shepparton dropped by 2.6 per cent in 2020 compared with the previous year – but police fear many incidents are going unreported.
Deputy chair of the state government Victim Survivors' Advisory Council Geraldine Bilston said the Orange Door would present a single, safe place where people could access a swathe of services.
A victim survivor herself, Ms Bilston wished this service had existed when she fled an abusive relationship six years ago, taking her daughter with her.
"Another layer of the traumatic experience was trying to navigate a whole range of services for both of us," she said.
"I think that's why the Orange Doors are a really exciting time for victim survivors. It's one place people can come to access a range of different services.
"It also alleviates that need for victim survivors to have to continuously tell their story to a range of different people in order to access that help."
Rebecca Lorains, chief executive of Orange Door partner Primary Care Connect, said it had been a lengthy 18-month journey to see the Goulburn Orange Door come to fruition.
"It will hopefully prevent people from bouncing around the system," she said.
"So there will be really formal and strong assessment, risk planning and then support services offered to our families."
The network will also keep children in focus, addressing the impact family violence can have on their wellbeing into the future.
"I truly believe that will mean we have better outcomes from our families," she said.
Ms Lorains said by partnering with other local agencies, Orange Door would ensure there was no wrong door for victim survivors and their families to access.
"This means no matter where somebody accesses the Orange Door network, they will get what they need, when they need it," she said.
The Goulburn Orange Door network will support families across the Goulburn region including the Greater Shepparton, Moira, Strathbogie, Mitchell and Murrindindi local government areas.
The Shepparton hub will be supported by an access point planned for Wallan, plus outposted and outreach services throughout the region.
The Orange Door can be accessed in person, via a dedicated phone number or by referral from other services.
A free service, Orange Door can be contacted in Goulburn on 1800 634 245 or via email on goulburn@orangedoor.vic.gov.au from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm (excluding public holidays).
More information is available at orangedoor.vic.gov.au
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