Family Violence Intervention Programme
The Family Violence Intervention Programme enhances Work and Income's response to people who are experiencing family violence.
Benefits of the Family Violence Intervention Programme
The programme recognises that New Zealand has a very high rate of family violence and that many victims are clients of Work and Income. Service centres are an excellent point of contact to identify and support people in this situation.
By providing a skilled client response, closely linked into existing local family violence service providers, we can make a significant contribution to reducing family violence and promoting the safety and wellbeing of people and their families.
We have developed strong working relationships with other government agencies and community-based family violence service providers to support people affected by family violence.
How the programme works
Our case managers have been trained to identify and respond appropriately to people who are living in or leaving violent family situations.
Family Violence Response Co-ordinators have been appointed in each region to provide support to case managers and liaise with local support services.
The programme ensures that our staff:
- have a greater awareness of the effects of family violence and the barriers victims face to participating fully in the community
- provide a safe and sensitive environment for clients experiencing family violence
- develop close links with local family violence service agencies
- are able to refer clients to appropriate support services.
The programme is available to anyone affected by family violence. People wanting help to stop using violence will also be referred to support services.
Family violence prevention resources
Free wallet-sized brochures developed by community agencies such as Women’s Refuge and Brainwave Trust are available, as well as:
- other brochures focusing on support for men and for children
- posters promoting the FVIP, and
- prompt cards for screening clients for family violence.
These resources are available for use by community agencies and may be ordered from the Family and Community Services website:
Where to go for help
If you're experiencing, using or witnessing family violence you can do something about it.
Some of your options are:
- Call The Family Violence Information Line: 0800 456 450
The Family Violence Information Line can put you in touch with organisations in your area who can help. It is available seven days a week, from 9am to 11pm.
- Contact us. You can call us or visit one of our service centres. We can provide you with information about local family violence support services or stopping violence services so you can seek support.
- Call the Police on 111 if you are in immediate danger.
- Visit the websites below:
Here you can find links to the websites of organisations around New Zealand who are committed to supporting individuals and communities to say Family Violence, It's not OK!
Contacts for family violence services from the National Directory on the Family and Community Services website.
If you are concerned about the safety or well-being of a child or young person, please contact Child, Youth and Family.