Shepparton records highest family violence order breach rate in state

A family violence court order is breached every three hours in Shepparton, with victims calling for more support even after they are considered safe from their perpetrators.

Shepparton recorded the highest rate of family violence order breaches in Victoria in 2024.

A family violence court order is breached every three hours in Shepparton, with women left fearing that their abusive ex-partners could turn up at their door at any moment.

Shocking data released by the Crime Statistics Agency revealed there were 2436 family violence order breaches recorded in the region in the year to December 2024 — which per 100,000 people was the highest in the state.

Shepparton domestic abuse survivor Lutfiye Kavci — who was stabbed by her ex-husband after he breached an order — said finding a secure place to live was “emotionally exhausting”.

“When my ex-husband breached the IVO, I would report it … it was hard because I didn’t have much evidence and that’s what police would want to take action,” she said.

“The last breach I reported was exactly a month before the stabbing.”

Lutfiye Kavci is a survivor of family violence and advocates for better housing for people escaping and recovering from being in the same position she is.

Ms Kavci, who had a three month old at the time, was followed by her perpetrator to the police station where she told officers she was scared and that every time she made a report he got angry.

Four weeks later he attacked her as she was walking from her mum’s house to her car.

She was in a coma at The Alfred for five days with internal bleeding and had to be resuscitated.

He was jailed for 12 years.

“He planned to end my life that day,” she said.

“I had to move into my mum’s house and he knew I was there.

“I was put on a priority housing list, but I still haven’t seen a house available for me and my son.

“I’ve been applying to many houses and got rejected by all of them.

Across Victoria, family violence incidents increased to an all-time high in 2024, with the state recording more than 104,700 incidents — an 11 per cent spike from the year before.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said breaches of family violence intervention orders were taken extremely seriously.

“Victoria Police conducts regular operations to proactively target and apprehend perpetrators and bring them before the courts to ensure the safety of victim-survivors,” she said.

“Statewide we’re arresting 84 perpetrators of family violence a day – that’s one every 17 minutes.”

The spokeswoman said in the last year police charged almost 25,000 perpetrators for breaches of family violence intervention orders.

“In Shepparton, the Family Violence Investigation Unit and Sexual Offences Child Abuse Team are co-located with our partner agencies in a new Multi-Disciplinary Centre to provide a co-ordinated and integrated response to victim survivors,” she said.

“If you, or someone close to you, discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact police.”

A Victorian Government spokeswoman said all women and children in Victoria had the right to live safely, freely and without fear of family violence.

“The Orange Door Goulburn is dedicated to ensuring that those who are experiencing violence or who need help with their children across Shepparton get the support they need, where and when they need it,” she said.