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Urgent Help

Emergency?
Need police or ambulance now?
Call 000
Available 24/7
Seeking refuge accommodation?
Dial Safe Steps
1800 015 188
Available 24/7

Emergency?

Call 000 – If you or are experiencing family violence or are concerned for someone’s safety, call 000 for immediate assistance.

Seeking refuge accommodation?

If you need support or information, call the Safe Steps 24/7 crisis line 1800 015 188. If you don’t feel safe to use the telephone or prefer texting, Safe Steps offers WebChat from 9am – midnight, Monday to Friday.

Contact Information:

For general information and enquiries phone 03 9877 0311

Office hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.

P.O. Box 12
Ringwood, Victoria 3134

A Safe, Inclusive Pathway Out of Family Violence

The Refuge to Recovery Program offers crisis accommodation and recovery support for people who are LGBTIQA+ and have experienced family violence. It is the first dedicated LGBTIQA+ refuge response in Victoria, developed in partnership with LGBTIQA+ community-controlled organisations including Thorne Harbour Health, Switchboard Victoria and Family Access Network.    

We recognise that family violence in LGBTIQA+ communities can look different — including abuse that targets sexuality, gender identity and expression, or intersex status — and that many people face barriers accessing mainstream services. This program exists to ensure people can access safe, affirming, and culturally respectful support. 

Who We Support

Refuge to Recovery is tailored for LGBTIQA+ victim-survivors who: 

  • are experiencing family violence and need protective hiding 
  • have experienced violence related to their sexuality or gender identity 
  • feel excluded, unsafe, or misunderstood by the system 
  • want affirming, culturally safe and trauma-informed support tailored to their identity and lived experience.   

What the Program Offers

Speciality Crisis Accommodation

Clients are supported in dedicated Refuge Victoria properties, where they can stay safely and privately while beginning their recovery journey.

Affirming LGBTIQA+ Case Management

Our LGBTIQA+ case manager — someone with lived experience who understands how discrimination and minority stress intersect with experiences of family violence. Case management includes: 

  • personalised safety planning 
  • advocacy within and across services 
  • practical and emotional support 
  • service referrals and pathways 

Culturally Safe and Evidence-Based Practice

The program was developed in response to research showing that family violence occurs at similar levels in LGBTIQA+ communities as in the broader population, yet only about 20% of incidents are reported, and many LGBTIQA+ people do not access mainstream services.    
 
The program evaluation found that the model effectively addresses barriers that prevent LGBTIQA+ people from accessing mainstream family violence services by building trust, improving service knowledge and increasing understanding of how family violence presents for diverse identities.  
 
The evaluation has informed recommendations for program development and highlights the ongoing need for specialised, co-designed LGBTIQA+ responses within the family violence service system.  

How to Access Support

For People Seeking Help

If you are LGBTIQA+ person experiencing family violence, you can access support and referrals through:  

  • The Orange Door, Safe Steps, and other mainstream family violence services 
  • LGBTIQA+ specialist services such as Rainbow Door and Thorne Harbour Health 
  • Other allied health and community services  

For Professionals and Referrers

  • Referrals to the Refuge to Recovery Program can be made through specialist family violence pathways including Safe Steps and The Orange Door or LGBTIQA+ community-controlled organisations that have the capacity to complete a MARAM Risk Assessment 

For queries in regard to the program, please email [email protected] 

You Deserve Safety and Support

Family violence is never acceptable. Refuge to Recovery exists to ensure that LGBTIQA+ people have access to safe, affirming, culturally safe refuge and support that honours their identity, dignity and humanity