DCJ has opened a tender to deliver Safe and Strong Families, an early intervention service focused on preventing and responding to Domestic and Family Violence, across priority locations in NSW.

Project goals

The Department of Communities & Justice (DCJ) has received $13 million in funding from the Commonwealth under the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses National Partnership Agreement 2023-25 to deliver Safe and Strong Families, an early intervention service, across priority locations in NSW.

The target group for Safe and Strong Families includes children, young people and parents/carers who are at risk of, are currently experiencing, or who have experienced, family violence. This includes:

• Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities.

• 0–5-year olds;

• children and young people at risk of disengagement from school, family and community;

• young parents with known vulnerabilities or who are experiencing a number of hardships.

• children and young people affected by a mental health condition/s.

This procurement will involve allocating approximately $2 million (inclusive of GST) of funding across an anticipated 5 new contracts. Each contract will be for $400,000 (inclusive of GST) for a contract term of 12-24 months. Please note that whilst the initial contract period is for 12 months, the contract may be extended for up to another 12 months should the funds not be fully expended.

This is an open tender for 5 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Scope

Safe and Strong Families aims to address a gap in the family violence service system as evidence demonstrates intervening early will improve the trajectory and outcomes for children and young people who have experienced family violence.

Safe and Strong Families has a dual focus, supporting both victim survivors and their children, who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, family violence. The program will deliver therapeutic, trauma-informed and culturally safe early support to victim survivors and their children.

The program stands out from other family violence services as a soft entry point for vulnerable families, and service providers are encouraged to work with victim survivors and their children as long as required to achieve positive outcomes.

It will be delivered under DCJs Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) program. TEI offers culturally safe, responsive and flexible support services to meet the needs of children, young people and families experiencing or at risk of vulnerability. The flexibility of the TEI program allows support to families when they need it, and strong local connections within the service system allows a customised response to families addressing issues early and preventing escalation to a crisis response.