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Apply to deliver Family Advocacy Support Services

Published:
Tuesday 7 April 2026 at 9:57 am

We are inviting organisations to apply to deliver Family Advocacy Support Services (FASS) for family violence and mental health at nine locations across Victoria:

  • Melbourne
  • Dandenong
  • Geelong
  • Warrnambool
  • Bendigo
  • Ballarat
  • Shepparton
  • Mildura
  • Morwell.

Funding available for each contract will be specified in an expression of interest pack.

Successful applicants will enter into a four-year service agreement with Victoria Legal Aid from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030.

Services eligible for funding

We are seeking applications for:

  • family violence support services for women and gender diverse people (applications to deliver services at one or more locations across Victoria)
  • family violence support services for men (applications to deliver services at all nine locations across Victoria only)
  • mental health support services (applications to deliver services at all nine locations across Victoria only)

Who can apply

We encourage applications from organisations that:

  • have demonstrated experience in family violence, social work, or community services
  • have an understanding of the family law system
  • have experience supporting diverse communities, including First Nations communities
  • deliver culturally appropriate and inclusive services
  • have strong local networks and referral pathways in FASS locations
  • can work collaboratively with legal services
  • are ready to start delivering services from 1 July 2026.

Successful organisations will work alongside lawyers to:

  • provide short-term, targeted family violence or mental health support and risk assessment in the family law courts (in person and via phone) at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia registries or circuit locations.
  • help clients access other services such as housing, financial counselling, alcohol and other drug support, and mental health care
  • support safety planning and referrals for ongoing assistance
  • work with other service providers to ensure coordinated care.

How to apply

To request an expression of interest application pack, please email fyclprojects@vla.vic.gov.au by 5 pm, Tuesday 28 April 2026. Late applications are unable to be considered.

Applications will be assessed by a Victoria Legal Aid panel.

About the Family Advocacy and Support Service

FASS supports people involved in family law disputes who are affected by family violence. It brings together legal and social support to provide coordinated, trauma-informed help to families navigating the family law system across Victoria.

FASS offers in-person support at all Victorian family law court locations and phone support for people attending Court via audiovisual link. This includes full-time registries in Melbourne and Dandenong, as well as regular services at circuit courts in Geelong, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura and Morwell.

More information

Read more about FASS.

If you have any questions, please email fyclprojects@vla.vic.gov.au

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