Albany victim-survivors of family and domestic violence will soon have access to extra support to remain safely in their own homes, with the State Government expanding its Safe at Home program into the Great Southern.

From July 1, Albany will become one of eight new locations across WA to receive the service, with Anglicare WA set to deliver support locally.

Safe at Home supports people experiencing family and domestic violence through risk assessments, safety planning, security upgrades and in-home support, allowing them to remain safely where appropriate rather than relocating.

The expansion forms part of an $11.5 million WA Government commitment aimed at helping more victim-survivors stay connected to their homes, schools, workplaces and communities after perpetrators are removed.

Funding has also been increased across all 19 Safe Home locations from July 1 this year with each service receiving an additional $35,350 in brokerage funding.

This extra funding will help organisations provide practical support including security upgrades and financial assistance for essential goods and services to aid recovery.

Other locations around the State include Broome, Yanchep, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Karratha, Mandurah and Geraldton.

The plan was announced in Albany on Tuesday by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski.

Ms Stojkovski said the program had been running since 2010 and already helped thousands of women and expanding it would be highly beneficial for women and children.

“Between 2021 and 2024, more than 1500 women and children have been assisted by the Safer Home programs across the State,” she said.

“This program is so important to our response to family and domestic violence because everybody deserves to feel safe in their own homes.

“It provides safety audits and security upgrades as well as helping them to re-adjust when their perpetrator has left the home.”

Ms Stojkovski also announced the expansion of the men’s behaviour change program in Albany.

“There is an extension of two years to that program,” she said.

“These programs provide timely, evidence-based programs to provide interventions for men who have used coercive or controlling abusive behaviour in their intimate partnerships.”

Philppa Boldy, director of services at Anglicare, said the expansion of the Safe at Home program would l have positive impacts on victims.

“We’re really pleased to see the expansion of this program,” she said.

“Both the Safe at Home program and the extension of the men’s behaviour change program is going to really amplify the impact that we can have for victim survivors who are in the Albany area.

“The prevalence of family and domestic violence is rising as well, so being able to continually refine and improve the responses that we have to keep women and children safe is really essential.”