FVREE welcomes
LGBTI communities

FVREE Family Violence Service Statement

FVREE is the specialist family violence service for the eastern areas of Melbourne.

We support all women, including women from the LGBTI communities, their children, pets and other animals, who are responding to any form of family violence.

We’re committed to assisting all people, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age and ability within our community and can also provide access to other family violence services that are most suitable to the individual’s unique needs and goals.

We acknowledge that family violence can take many forms such as intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, carer abuse, parental abuse and sibling abuse.

Access to family violence services in Melbourne’s Inner East has recently changed. If you live in Melbourne’s Inner East (LGA’s include Boroondara, Manningham, Whitehorse and Monash) contact The IEMA Orange Door on 1800 354 322, mon-fri 9am-5pm or email iema@orangedoor.vic.gov.au.

If you live in Melbourne’s Outer East (LGA’s include Maroondah, Knox and Yarra Ranges) contact FVREE on (03) 9259 4200, mon-fri 9am-5pm or email.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, support is available. Find the nearest family violence support service via The Orange Door Portal Service.

FVREE provides free support services and assistance with:
  • Safety planning

  • Information

  • Case management

  • Counselling

  • Support for your children

  • Court support

  • Intervention orders

  • Community education

  • Programs for pet safety

  • Financial assistance

  • Housing assistance

  • Links to a strong network of referral pathways to other services

We want you to know:
  • You are not alone

  • Help is available

  • Someone else’s choice to use violence is NEVER your fault

  • It is a fundamental human right to live free from violence

Download FVREE LGBTI Brochure here
Our Partnerships and Networks

FVREE partnerships and networks continue to strengthen across Victoria.

  • Swinburne University

  • Monash University

  • Headspace

  • RFVP

Our staff

Our experienced Specialist Family Violence Advocates have been trained in LGBTI Inclusive Practice and understand the needs of LGBTI people in relation to family violence. FVREE recognises that people from LGBTI communities can face distinct barriers when accessing services. LGBTI people are less likely to report family violence to police or seek help from services, due to mistrust, fear of discrimination or simply due to a lack of appropriate services being available to assist them.

FVREE staff will support you to make informed choices about your future and understand that you may need assistance from different types of services and programs. We will listen to you, believe you, provide information and support with a focus on supporting your safety, individual needs and goals. 

FVREE achieves Rainbow Tick Accreditation

As a Rainbow Tick Accredited organisation, FVREE continues to strengthen LGBTI inclusive family violence practice. FVREE is recognised as providing safe and welcoming spaces, and having inclusive policies and procedures to make sure everyone feels safe accessing our services.

Rainbow Tick Accreditation will assist us to deliver responsive family violence services to the LGBTI communities, with a focus on the individual’s unique needs and goals. 

FVREE also develops and maintains systematic processes for LGBTI inclusive professional development for the staff, leadership and governance.

What does visiting a Rainbow Tick Accredited service mean to you?

Visiting a Rainbow Tick Accredited service means the organisation understands and have implemented LGBTI safe and inclusive service delivery and are nationally recognised as meeting the Rainbow Tick Standards . The Rainbow Tick Accreditation Program is a voluntary program and aims to assist organisations to move from LGBTI-friendly to LGBTI-inclusive while reassuring LGBTI consumers and staff that an organisation is aware of, is responsive to and is understanding of your needs.  This means you can be reassured of high-quality care and support, and that safe work practices are provided to you.

(Rainbow Tick Standards
Why does FVREE use LGBTI inclusive language?

We recognise that language is always changing and evolving. Currently at FVREE we use the acronym LGBTI although this will probably change over time.

We decided to use LGBTI after drawing on community consultation, current research and good practice examples to inform our practice, including the Australian Human rights commission report addressing sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity , as well as Victorian Government-Inclusive Language Guide.

Tell us how we’re tracking as a LGBTI inclusive organisation.  Provide suggestions on how we can better meet your needs.

Your Feedback is Welcome
Other LGBTI support services and resources:

w/respect: Specialist LGBTIQA+ Family Violence Service funded by the Victorian government, phone: 1800 542 847

Website

1800RESPECT: family violence and sexual assault, over the phone counselling supporting LGBTI people, available 24/7days, phone: 1800 737 732

Website

Switchboard: general information and phone counselling for LGBTIQA+ members, phone: 1800 184 527

Website

Rainbow Door: Connecting all LGBTIQA+ people to the support services they need. Phone: 1800 729 367 | Text: 0480 017 246  OR Email:support@rainbowdoor.org.au | available 10am-5pm, everyday.

Website

QLife: provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Phone: 1800 184 527

Website

Queerspace: resources & counselling service for LGBTIQ+ communities, phone: (03) 9663 6733

Website

Rainbow Network: directory & resources for young LGBTIQA+ Victorians, phone: (03) 9479 8870

Website

Trans Gender Victoria (TGV): leading body for trans & gender diverse advocacy, phone: (03) 9020 4642

Website

Thorne Harbour Health: LGBTI health service, phone: 1800 889 887

Website

St Kilda Legal Service: LGBTIQ outreach lawyers, phone: 0490 086 090

Website

Fitzroy Legal Service: LGBTIQ family law legal advice clinic, phone: (03) 9419 3744

Website

Family Access Network (FAN): support for young people, including specialist homelessness support for young persons from LGBTIQ communities, phone: (03) 9890 2673

Website

Definitions:

LGBTI: An internationally recognised acronym which is used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people collectively. Many sub-groups form part of the larger LGBTI movement.

Lesbian: A woman who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women.

Gay: A person who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to people of the same sex and/or gender as themselves. This term is often used to describe men who are attracted to other men, but some women and gender diverse people may describe themselves as gay.

Bisexual: A person who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to people of their own gender and other genders.

Trans (short for transgender): A person whose gender does not exclusively align with the one they were assigned at birth. Trans can be used as an umbrella term, but not everyone uses it to describe themselves. For example, a man who was assigned female at birth might refer to himself as ‘a trans man’, ‘a man with a trans history’ or just ‘a man’. It’s important to use the terms someone uses to describe themselves.

Intersex: A person who is born with atypical natural variations to physical or biological sex characteristics such as variations in chromosomes, hormones or anatomy. Intersex traits are a natural part of human bodily diversity. Not all intersex people use the term intersex.

Sexual orientation: The term ‘sexual orientation’ refers to a person’s emotional or sexual attraction to another person, including, amongst others, the following identities: heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual or same-sex attracted.

Gender identity: The term ‘gender identity’ refers to a person’s deeply held internal and individual sense of gender.

Above definition as per Australian Human rights commission report. 

The Australian Pride Network provides a guide to LGBTI community events held in Victoria.

 
FVREE acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. FVREE pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging.


FVREE acknowledges people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) communities, their children, pets and other animals, who are responding to family violence in the community.

FVREE respects all people who are responding to family violence, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age and ability.

FVREE is a child-focused and child safe organisation.

  FVREE acknowledges funding from the Victorian Government