Family Advocacy and Support Services program comes to Geelong

A broad family violence support service offering a range of help is coming to Geelong.

The people of Geelong will have better access to vital family violence help with the expansion of the Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS) program.

FASS is an integrated service that provides both legal and non-legal support, including help with accommodation, finance and drug and alcohol abuse, to those affected by family violence.

Previously only available at the Melbourne and Dandenong registries of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA), the expanded FASS program been rolling out across regional Victoria this month and arrives in Geelong on Monday.

Crime Statistics Agency data, to the 12 months to June, showed family violence ­assaults grew across Greater Geelong by 7.4 per cent.

Part of an $85m nationwide expansion, FASS will be available at all nine FCFCOA circuit locations across Victoria for the first time.

FASS will also be broadened to include mental health supports for the first time since launching in 2017.

Bethany Community Support in Geelong was selected as one of the new partners to deliver FASS services until June 30, 2025.

“Supporting clients as part of the FASS team will be of huge benefit to the local community, helping us extend our reach in providing specialist support for people impacted by family violence,” Bethany executive manager Bernadette McCartney said.

Bernadette McCartney.

“Our trained workers are there to support clients navigating complex and often stressful family law court proceedings, to help achieve safe outcomes for themselves and their children.”

The FASS expansion has prioritised partnerships with local organisations wherever possible, to capitalise on their knowledge, experience and strong understanding of their communities, according to Victoria Legal Aid.

Sophie Meehan, family law projects manager at Victoria Legal Aid, said family violence remained a very real problem across Australia and it was vital access to support continued to be broadened, when and where people need it.

Ms Meehan said FASS supported families to resolve matters in the court safely and more quickly, while also providing vital and necessary links to holistic supports, like accommodation and financial counselling services, which often go hand-in-hand.

“This expansion across regional Victoria is a clear sign that the FASS model is working – and means we can support more families dealing with separation, both in and out of court,” she said.

Other partners include Relationships Australia Victoria, which will deliver mental health support services and No To Violence, which will support male clients, both across all FCFCOA circuit locations and permanent registries.

Originally published as Family Advocacy and Support Services program comes to Geelong