Financial Support for Victims

Keeping Women Safe in Their Homes Program

The Keeping Women Safe in their Homes (KWSITH) program provides funding to support women and their children who experience family violence to have security upgrades made to their homes, or a home of their choice, so they may safely stay there.

Security upgrades can include, but are not limited to

  • solid core doors
  • security screen doors
  • door viewers
  • door chains
  • door locks
  • sensor lights

In some cases, funding may also be approved for the addition of:

  • window locks,
  • security window screens
  • security camera/s with the capacity to collect admissible evidence
  • mobile phone where it provides additional safety

KWSITH funding may be approved for disability modifications alongside security upgrades. Where there is a delay in access to NDIS funded supports, and a disability modification is required in order to facilitate a move to a new home, applications for modifications may include, but are not limited to:

  • Installation of ramps
  • Widening of doorways
  • Bathroom modifications
  • Bedroom modifications

Disability modifications may relate to the needs of the woman, or any child(ren) in her care.

KWSITH funding is delivered through Safe at Home: the Tasmanian Government’s Integrated Criminal Justice Response to Family Violence, on behalf of the Department of Social Services.

The Salvation Army's Safer in the Home Program

The National Safer in the Home Program (external link) is a family and domestic violence, brokerage support program, delivered by The Salvation Army, to help women and children stay safe in their family homes (if safe to do so).

The program supports victim-survivors of family violence with basic home security upgrades and technology interventions and aims to minimise the social and economic consequences victim-survivors face when leaving a violent relationship.

Safer in the Home is available to women with or without accompanying children throughout Australia where the current level of risk is assessed as being “at risk” or “elevated risk”.

Professional referrals are preferred and must be accompanied by a completed family violence Risk assessment. Non-specialist services are also able to refer to the program and will be supported to complete a family violence risk assessment if required.

To find out more visit the Safer in the Home website (external link). For a secondary consult call 1300 694 167 (Monday - Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm) ask to speak with a National Safer in The Home practitioner.

Escaping Violence Payment

Paying the costs of moving to safety

The Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) is available for Australian citizens and permanent residents aged 18+ who have a changed living situation due to recently experienced intimate partner violence and are experiencing financial stress.

If you are struggling with finances to live your life in safety, you could be eligible for the Escaping Violence Payment, an individually tailored package that can comprise:

  • $1,500 of cash equivalent such as vouchers for essential items
  • Goods and service such as removalists, bond payments, or basics for a new home
  • Wrap-around support including casework from the EVP provider

If you already have a caseworker, speak to them about accessing the EVP.

To find out more and to see if you are eligible visit the EVP website (external link).

Flexible Support Packages

Flexible Support Packages (FSP) are designed to support victim-survivors and their children by providing practical supports to those experiencing financial hardship by enhancing safety and wellbeing when leaving a relationship and living situation, where there has been an experience of family violence. FSP are intended to complement practical resources and support offered by existing community, government and non-government service providers.

Packages can be applied for to support victim-survivors and their children to cover the following types of expenses:

  • Relocation costs or bond
  • Bills including utilities
  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Medical supplies and medication not covered by Medicare or the PBS
  • Medical appointment gaps not covered by Medicare, including dental
  • White goods
  • Mobile phone and credit
  • Furniture

This is not an exhaustive list, and applications should be tailored to the needs of the victim-survivor and their children.

FSP are delivered through Safe at Home: the Tasmanian Government’s Integrated Criminal Justice Response to Family Violence.

Last updated: 2 February 2024