Strength in numbers as family services unite

Another community agency merger has been announced with Minerva Community Services and Barwon CASA intending to join forces.
The two specialist family violence services said they wanted to create a “strong and robust platform” to prevent and respond to the high levels of sexual assault and family violence in the community.
The move continued to trend towards consolidation of Geelong human services agencies following a merger announcement by Bethany Community Support and Geelong Kindergarten Association last week.
Karingal and St Laurence Community Services have also agreed to merge after Karingal had already merged with CREATE in 2011 and with DoCare Geelong in 2015.
Barwon Child, Youth and Family was created out of a merger between Barwon Youth, Glastonbury Community Services and Time for Youth last year.
Head of the new entity Helen Bolton said the merger was timely.
“Women and children experiencing family violence will receive a comprehensive service that can respond to their immediate safety needs,” she said.
“The new service is able to address the effects of the trauma they have experienced and support them towards recovery.
“In bringing our two organisations together, we are creating a single entry point and highly efficient model to meet the needs of people experiencing sexual assault and family violence.”
Minerva Board chair Renee Fiolet said the move would revolutionise the way the service system worked.
“Our intention to merge is a first step on the way to seeing real change to the way services are delivered. It will make it much easier for women and children to have a co-ordinated response.”
Barwon CASA Board chair Dr Kate Fitz-Gibbon said bringing the merger combined expertise, specialist knowledge and skills.
“That will help to streamline and eliminate any confusion currently experienced by victims of family and sexual violence and service providers who refer into our services.
“It is a highly collaborative model which co-locates the Barwon CASA specialist sexual assault counsellors with specialist police and child protection staff in the one building.”