Deliver Safe Choices
Responsible government
- Tasmania
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Respect, listen and respond to the diverse lived experience and knowledge of women and their children affected by violence
- 10 Implement community-led and tailored initiatives to address the unique experiences and needs of communities affected by multiple forms of discrimination or inequality.
What are we doing?
This action supports ongoing delivery of Safe Choices, a statewide non-crisis service that provides practical information and supports, advice and referrals to people experiencing family violence and those who want to leave violent relationships. Safe Choices can also be accessed by family and friends seeking information or support.
Safe Choices was established in 2016 to provide an alternative entry point to the service system, for people who did not want to engage with ‘traditional services’ – police, justice or counselling. Safe Choices is delivered through face-to-face services based out of Hobart, Burnie and Launceston in Tasmania; a statewide phoneline service and website.
- Deliver Safe Choices is an action under Safe Homes, Families, Communities: Tasmania’s action plan for family and sexual violence 2019-2022 (Safe Homes, Families, Communities), which invests $26 million over three years from 2019-20 to 2021-22 to prevent and respond to family and sexual violence in Tasmania.
What have we achieved so far?
Safe Homes, Families, Communities commenced implementation on 1 July 2019. Safe Choices is an ongoing initiative that commenced under the previous action plan, Safe Homes, Safe Families: Tasmania’s Family Violence Action Plan 2015-2020. Safe Choices continues to provide support for those affected by family violence across the State.
In March 2020, the Tasmanian Government announced additional funding for Safe Choices to increase operational capacity over 12 months as part of the $2.7 million family violence package in response to COVID-19. In September 2020 and March 2021, additional funding was allocated by the Tasmanian Government under the National Partnership on COVID-19 Domestic and Family Violence Responses to maintain increased operational capacity to 30 June 2022.
What is next?
Ongoing delivery of Safe Choices service.
Safe Choices is also funded by the Australian Government to deliver the Local Support Coordinator program, which supports women with disability experiencing family violence.
In 2021-22, the Tasmanian Government will provide additional funding for Safe Choices to extend delivery of the Northern Local Support Coordinator program into the North West.
What difference will we make?
Safe Choices provides access to a non-crisis support for those affected by family violence, including those in, or wanting to leave, violent relationships.