Our Strategic Plan
GenWest’s work is guided by the goals and vision in our Strategic Plan 2020-2025.
Our strategic plan helps to align the work we do with our vision of gender equity in the west.
Our Annual Report
Read more about our impact and who we are in our 2022- 2023 Annual Report.
Data & research
Do you need data about our family violence service? Would you like to involve us in your research?
We can provide data reports for councils and community organisations and we can partner with universities to supply information and data.
Here’s a snapshot of our work from the 2022-23 financial year:
2,140 victim survivors were supported by our family violence service in 2022-23.
This does not include victim survivors who were supported by GenWest staff based at the Orange Door.
From their commencement in 2022 to June 2023, the two Orange Door locations in Melbourne’s west received over 20,000 referrals.
“My case worker was amazing, she provided assistance, reassurance and checked in regularly. The support provided was something you can’t get just anywhere. She was truly just wonderful the entire way through and I don’t know where I would have been able to get to without GenWest. Can’t thank you enough.”
GenWest client
In 2022-23 we saw a 100 percent increase in requests for sexual and reproductive health education sessions, compared to previous years – including pre-pandemic years.
This year, our sexual and reproductive health teams doubled the reach of their work and focused on expanding our ability to consult with young people and schools to understand their needs.
We grew the valuable Human Relations program, which provides culturally safe, tailored and in-language education to newly arrived young people. The sessions cover complex topics including puberty, healthy relationships, safer sex, pregnancy, body image and gender. This year, the program was expanded to additional campuses of the Western English Language School (WELS).
“I think that all students desperately need to get this learning because of how potentially life-affecting it can be… to ensure that these students not just get the message but get it in a format that is comprehensible to their level of English.”
A teacher at Western English Language School
In December 2022, GenWest’s new refuge property opened its doors. Since then, it has provided a safe and comfortable place for 17 households to escape from family violence.
The name of our refuge property, Marrageil Manggi (pronounced Marra-jal Man-gee), means ‘divine within’ in the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people, the Traditional Custodians of this part of Melbourne’s west. The new refuge moves away from traditional communal living arrangements.
Marrageil Manggi was operating at full capacity in recent months, with every unit full. The team there have worked hard to create a welcoming environment for victim survivors – both adults and children - and link them into local services and supports depending on their needs.
“My case manager was very empathetic in listening to my story and making me believe that this is not the end. I can start my life again and can live happily. I am in a refuge right now, a little relieved. I know I still have to do a lot, but my case manager has laid a stepping stone in my life, or I can say she has given me another life.”
GenWest client
This year, the Sunrise program had over 2,750 contact hours with women and gender diverse people with disabilities and welcomed 20 new group members.
Sunrise, one of GenWest’s longest running programs, continues to have a significant positive impact on the lives of participants.
Sunrise groups are for women and gender diverse people who have a disability, chronic health issue and/or mental health challenges. The group’s activities are planned in collaboration with its members, through a series of planning and co-design sessions.
“In regard to my health, being a participant in Sunrise has helped to improve my mental strength. It has helped me to develop resilience in dealing with my health ups and downs... [It has] helped me to not focus on my symptoms so much, and realise I was still capable of things”
Sunrise participant
GenWest’s Children’s and Youth Counselling team provided counselling to 308 families this year, the most they have ever supported in a single year.
Our Children’s and Youth Counselling program assists adults to create a supportive environment for children who have experienced family violence. The program supports parents and carers to understand and respond to their child’s behaviours, which may be resulting from trauma. Building trusting relationships with children and their families is central to the team’s work.
“I am so grateful for GenWest for ensuring the safety of myself and child. I hope my feedback lets you know what a great team you have. I feel that women suffering from domestic violence are blessed to have your service available to them.”
GenWest client
This year, GenWest's multilingual health education team delivered over 30 health information sessions to 463 people from a range of backgrounds.
GenWest’s multilingual health education team has grown and expanded this year, reaching more community members with vital health and wellbeing information.
The team create connections through long term engagement with community groups, building trust through shared language, culture and lived experience. These connections have enabled them to refer women experiencing family violence for support, when they had previously been too afraid to seek it due to language or cultural barriers. The program supports the mental health and wellbeing needs of migrant and refugee women in Melbourne’s west.
“This information about mental health has made me realize that I was suffering from mental health issues of stress and depression earlier but was not aware of it and suffering in silence.”
Multilingual health education participant
