GenWest’s family violence first response service is now part of the Orange Door.
The Orange Door is now open in Melbourne's west.
The biggest change for GenWest is that referrals for our family violence support services (First Response) will now be received through the Orange Door.
GenWest is still the specialist family violence service for Melbourne’s west, however the way victim survivors are referred to us has changed.
Previously, this website directed anyone needing family violence help to fill out a referral form, which was sent to us by email. Referrals for our family violence support services are now received via the Orange Door.
Victim survivors or professionals can enter their postcode here and find contact details for their nearest Orange Door.
Some of our family violence staff are now located at the Orange Doors, but you can still contact them in the same way you would have before.
What is the Orange Door?
The Orange Door provides help for people experiencing family violence, or who need assistance with the care and wellbeing of children and young people.
There are 17 Orange Doors across Victoria. There are two in Melbourne’s western region – in Werribee and Sunshine.
The Orange Door strengthens support for people experiencing family violence, including children. It does this by enabling a range of key services, including GenWest as the specialist family violence service, to come together under one roof.
This helps victim-survivors to receive the support they need without having to visit multiple locations and explain what’s happening to them over and over.
It is a free service and you won’t need a referral to access it.
Why was the Orange Door set up?
The Orange Door has been set up as part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
What services can I access?
The Orange Door brings together workers from:
- Specialist family violence services. In Melbourne’s western region, that is GenWest.
- Family services
- Aboriginal services
Workers at The Orange Door can refer people experiencing violence to other services too, such as financial, legal or housing support.
Where can I find out more?
If you are experiencing family violence and need support, visit the Family Violence Help page to find out about our support services.
If you’d like to know more about the Orange Door, visit the Orange Door website at orangedoor.vic.gov.au.
If you are professional working in the sector, there is information available on the Victorian Government website and on our Family Violence Information for Professionals page.
We will provide more updates for GenWest's members and subscribers before any changes happen. Please subscribe to our mailing list for updates, or keep an eye on our news page.
