Leading family violence support providers Safe Steps and Anglicare Victoria will come together from 1 December 2025, partnering to better support victims of family, domestic and intimate partner violence.
Safe Steps is Victoria’s only 24/7 family violence response centre. It provides family and domestic violence information and support, safety planning and risk assessment, and access to crisis accommodation. It also delivers part of the national 1800RESPECT support service. On average, Safe Steps handles around 130,000 contacts every year to support people fleeing violence, and, last year, provided around 31,000 nights of crisis accommodation for people who were not safe to go home.
Anglicare Victoria is the state’s leading provider of out-of-home care services for children and young people, and provides foster care, family services, parenting support, education, family violence, alcohol and drug support, financial counselling, community support programs, and emergency relief services.
Safe Steps CEO, Dr Chelsea Tobin, said joining with Anglicare Victoria will leverage its specialist expertise in family violence with the experience and scale of Anglicare Victoria, to provide more comprehensive care and support and meet the intersecting needs of all victim-survivors.
“Ten years after the Royal Commission into Family Violence, Victoria has seen significant reform which has increased public awareness, improved integration between services, and led to a more victim-focused system,” Dr Tobin said.
“This partnership will further improve both Safe Steps’ and Anglicare Victoria’s abilities to provide a broader spectrum of services, and deliver better outcomes for victims.”
Anglicare Victoria Chief Executive, Paul McDonald, said there was a compelling case to bring the two respected agencies together.
“Combining our two organisations will expand and improve support for victims and survivors of family violence, with the ultimate goal of reducing harm in our community.”
“Anglicare Victoria’s comprehensive range of services for children, families and individuals affected by family violence is trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and focused on safety and long-term healing.”
Under the change, family violence services at both agencies will continue without disruption. Safe Steps will remain a separate organisation to Anglicare Victoria, with its own Board, continuing to deliver on its mission and provide Victoria’s only 24/7 statewide family violence crisis response service.
Dr Tobin will be stepping down as CEO of Safe Steps, ahead of starting a new role at national care services provider, genU, early next year. A new leader for Safe Steps will be appointed in due course.
“It has been a privilege to serve as CEO for the past three and a half years, and I am excited by the opportunities that lie ahead for Safe Steps.”
“Safe Steps is a really fit and healthy organisation and this has enabled us to look to the future. Through this change, Safe Steps will continue its mission to offer hope, safety, and support to all victim-survivors across Victoria,” Dr Tobin said.
Mr McDonald said Safe Steps and Anglicare Victoria share a deep commitment to supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged communities across Victoria.
“Our values – to prevent, protect and empower disadvantaged Victorian children, young people and families – are so aligned with Safe Steps, which provides critical support to victims of family, domestic and intimate partner violence across the State – and nationally.”
“Together, Anglicare Victoria and Safe Steps will enhance and uplift the services we each provide to Victorians, providing care across the prevention continuum,” Mr McDonald said.
There will be no change to Safe Steps services, and any person who is worried about their safety or the safety of someone else can continue to contact Safe Steps at any time by calling 1800 015 188 (24/7), emailing safesteps@safesteps.org.au (24/7), or through live chat at safesteps.org.au/live-chat (24/7).
For interviews or more information, please contact:
• Safe Steps – Evelyn Ek on 0412 887 853
• Anglicare Victoria – Katie Martin on 0419 035 117
