about

The integrated family violence system (IFVS) is a network of family violence services funded by the Victorian Government who work together to improve the safety of women and children experiencing family violence. The integrated system includes both specialist support services such as outreach, counselling, refuges and referral services, and statutory service providers including Victoria Police.

In Victoria’s Central Highlands this system is represented by us - the Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee (CHIFVC). We are placed to provide strategic and expert leadership for the family violence system across six Local Government Areas (LGAs). These are Ararat, Ballarat, Hepburn, Golden Plains, Pyrenees and Moorabool. The CHIFVC exists to make positive change for our Central Highlands communities.

who are our members?

The CHIFVC is made up of support service organisations along with State Government funded family violence and sexual assault agencies relevant to the Central Highlands region. 

Our Committee is formed by representatives from these organisations:

• Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC)
• Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)
• Ballarat Community Health
• Ballarat Health Services
• Berry Street Western Region
• CAFS (Child and Family Services)
• Centacare
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Grampians Community Health
• Grampians Dhelk Dja Action Group
• Ballarat Magistrates Court
• Relationships Australia Victoria
• Respectful Relationships (Department of Education and Training)
• SalvoConnect Western
• Uniting Ballarat
• Victoria Police
• Women’s Health Grampians
• WRISC Family Violence Support

The CHIFVC is supported by a Principal Strategic Advisor (or PSA also sometimes known as a Regional Integration Coordinator or RIC) and a Project Support Officer.

As with other regional integrated family violence committees, the PSA assists to develop integration across sectors and within the family violence specialist services and lead regional activities that meaningfully contribute to state, regional and organisational policy development. The Project Support Officer provides part-time administration and research assistance to better enable the Committee’s PSA, Executive and members to participate in state-wide activities.
Each local Committee, including CHIFVC, contributes information to regional and state-wide Committees who monitor and work to improve the system response across Victoria.