Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services

What Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services does

Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services is a specialist non-profit organisation founded in 1979 and headquartered in Warrnambool, Victoria, providing free, confidential, trauma-informed family violence support to women and children across South West Victoria. Following a member vote in December 2022 and the formal acquisition on 16 October 2023, Emma House now operates as a service line of The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre), which employs more than 230 staff across the Barwon, Wimmera and South West regions and supports over 10,000 victim-survivors annually. Its service portfolio is delivered through two integrated arms: a core family-violence suite — case management and outreach, specialist Children's Program, crisis accommodation, court support, the Personal Safety Initiative, Risk Assessment and Management Panels (RAMP), and The Orange Door intake partnership — and the Emma House Legal Program, a Community Legal Centre providing Duty Lawyer representation at Portland, Hamilton and Warrnambool Magistrate's Courts alongside free legal advice clinics and ongoing representation.

Service delivery is fundamentally in-person, with a Warrnambool HQ (Kepler Street) and four outreach offices in Portland, Hamilton, Terang and Camperdown; after-hours and statewide crisis accommodation access is provided via Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre, and regional intake flows through The Orange Door Wimmera South West. The revenue model is grant-funded and donation-supported: primary funding comes from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), Family Safety Victoria, and Victoria Legal Aid, with secondary income from tax-deductible donations under Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. All services are free to clients. There is no proprietary technology platform described in the source material; the Personal Safety Initiative relies on externally procured physical-safety hardware (duress alarms, CCTV, home modifications) rather than internally developed products.

Emma House operates under an extensive Victorian regulatory framework — the Family Violence Protection Act 2008, the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and its 11 Child Safe Standards, the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014, the Health Records Act 2001, and the Australian Privacy Principles — and holds Child Safe Organisation Accreditation while working towards Rainbow Tick Accreditation for LGBTIQ+ inclusive practice. Its go-to-market is referral-driven, drawing on long-established partnerships with Victoria Police (including the Sexual Offences and Child-abuse Investigation Team), Aboriginal cooperatives (Gunditjmara, Winda-Mara), Brophy Family and Youth Services, Wellways, South West Healthcare, and the South West Centre Against Sexual Assault, complemented by community awareness channels such as Community Legal Education in secondary schools, the 16 Days of Activism campaign, and the annual Warrnambool Walk Against Family Violence.

Name

Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services

Legal name

Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre Inc

Website

https://emmahouse.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services is a Warrnambool-based specialist non-profit, established in 1979, that provides free, confidential family violence support — case management, crisis accommodation, court support, children's counselling and legal representation — to women and children across South West Victoria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Violence Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Family violence services
• Crisis accommodation support
• Community legal services
• Domestic violence case management
• Women and children support

Headquarters

HQ city

Warrnambool

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and philanthropy: Emma House accepts financial donations via bank transfer and through The SAFV Centre website. As a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), donations over $2 are tax-deductible. In-kind donations of new/unused items (toiletries, sanitary products, clothing) are also accepted.
2. Government funding: Funded by government departments including Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), Family Safety Victoria, and Victoria Legal Aid. The acquisition by The SAFV Centre provides a sustainable funding structure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Emma House provides free, confidential, trauma-informed family violence support services to women and children in South West Victoria. Core offerings include specialist case management and outreach, a children's program, crisis accommodation, intake via The Orange Door, a personal safety initiative (home modifications, duress alarms, CCTV), court support, RAMP, and a specialist community legal program offering duty lawyer services, legal advice, and ongoing representation.

Product overview

Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services (now operating as The SAFV Centre, locally known as Emma House) is a specialist family violence service provider offering a comprehensive suite of programs for women and children in South West Victoria. The organization operates under two main service arms: (1) Core Family Violence Services including Case Management and Outreach, Children's Program, Crisis Accommodation, Intake (via The Orange Door partnership), Personal Safety Initiative, Court Support, and RAMP; and (2) The Emma House Legal Program providing Duty Lawyer services, legal advice clinics, Further and Better Particulars assistance, and ongoing legal representation. All services are free, confidential, and delivered through a feminist, client-led model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Case Management and Outreach Program
• Children's Program Provides support for children who have experienced or witnessed family violence, including opportunities to discuss feelings, parental advice, referrals, and direct child support.
• Crisis Accommodation Provides safe crisis refuge accommodation and support workers who assist with Centrelink, schooling and housing matters; access is via the Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre.
• Intake Services (via The Orange Door Wimmera South West) Provides support for adults, children, and families experiencing family violence via The Orange Door, the regional intake gateway, contactable on 1800 271 180, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm.
• Personal Safety Initiative Provides home modifications, personal duress alarms and CCTV to enhance safety of people experiencing family violence, funded via the Family Violence Flexible Support Package program.
• Court Support Provides court support for women experiencing family violence, including assistance with Family Violence Intervention Orders and related court proceedings.
• RAMP (Risk Assessment and Management Panel) Convenes nine key agencies for comprehensive risk assessment and coordinated action plans for women and children at serious and imminent threat from family violence.
• Emma House Legal Program Specialist Community Legal Centre providing free or low-fee legal support, advice and representation to women experiencing family violence in South West Victoria, including duty lawyer services, legal advice clinics, divorce assistance, and ongoing representation.
• Duty Lawyer Service Provides free advice, representation and referrals at Portland, Hamilton and Warrnambool Magistrate's Courts for Family Violence Intervention Order matters, assisting applicants and protected persons on Police FVIO applications.
• Further and Better Particulars Legal service assisting applicants in providing detailed written information to the Court when seeking a Family Violence Intervention Order, including timeline of incidents, evidence, and witness information.

Quantifiable outcome

• 349 clients supported with case management outreach responses
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2023The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre) and Emma House officially united on 16 October 2023, creating a stronger sustainable future for women's services in the South West. Emma House was acquired by The SAFV Centre following a unanimous member vote in December 2022. Services continue under the name The SAFV Centre, locally known as Emma House. The combined entity now covers Barwon, South West and Wimmera regions, employs over 230 staff, and supports more than 10,000 victim survivors annually.
• The Orange Door — Wimmera South WestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmma House is a partner in the Wimmera South West Orange Door, which serves as the intake service for all family violence services across the region. Women and children are referred through The Orange Door as the coordinated entry point. Contact: 1800 271 180, open Monday–Friday 9am–5pm.
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Steps is Victoria's 24-hour family violence response service. After-hours support for Emma House clients is directed to Safe Steps (1800 015 188). Safe Steps also provides the state-wide referral pathway for access to Emma House's crisis accommodation.
• Magistrate's Courts (Portland, Hamilton, Warrnambool)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmma House Legal Program provides weekly Duty Lawyer services at Portland (Tuesday), Hamilton (Wednesday), and Warrnambool (Thursday) Magistrate's Courts to assist with Family Violence Intervention Order matters. Remote hearing support is available for those with safety concerns.
• Brophy Family and Youth ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal South West Victoria family and youth services organisation; listed as a support service that clients may be engaged with alongside Emma House services.
• Gunditjmara Aboriginal CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal community-controlled health and social services organisation based in Warrnambool. Emma House is committed to cultural safety and Aboriginal self-determination, with a Reconciliation Action Plan in development.
• Meli (formerly Bethany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth West Victoria social services organisation. Collaborates with Emma House on MARAM Collaborative Practice training delivery in the Warrnambool region.
• South West Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a support service that Emma House legal program clients may be concurrently engaged with.
• Sexual Offences and Child-abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictoria Police specialist unit. Listed as a support service that clients may be engaged with alongside Emma House services.
• WellwaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health and wellbeing service in South West Victoria. Listed as a support service that clients may be engaged with alongside Emma House services.
• South West Healthcare Mental Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal health service providing mental health support. Listed as a support service that clients may be engaged with alongside Emma House services.
• Winda-Mara Aboriginal CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal community organisation in the South West. Emma House provides culturally safe services and is developing a Reconciliation Action Plan.
• Victoria Legal AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-funded legal body. Emma House Legal Program received approval from Victoria Legal Aid for the acquisition/merger. Emma House maintains a strong partnership with Victoria Legal Aid for ongoing legal service delivery and funding.
• Women's Legal Service VictoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-wide women's legal service. Maintained partnership during Emma House's transitional period in 2025 to ensure service continuity.
• Department of Justice and Community SafetycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department providing funding oversight and approval for the Emma House acquisition. Maintained partnership during 2025 transition period.
• Family Safety VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body that funds the MARAM Collaborative Practice training module. Emma House and The SAFV Centre collaborate with Meli and Victoria Police to deliver this training in the Warrnambool region.
• Victoria PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictoria Police collaborates with Emma House and The SAFV Centre on MARAM Collaborative Practice training delivery in the Warrnambool region. Police are also a key referral source for family violence intervention order matters.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brophy Family and Youth Services: Local South West Victoria family and youth services organisation listed as a referral partner. Comparable regional family services scope and target demographics to Emma House.
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: Victoria's 24-hour state-wide family violence response service. Provides the crisis referral pathway for Emma House's crisis accommodation program and after-hours support, making it the closest functional peer in the same Victorian family violence ecosystem.
• South West Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA): Listed partner organisation in South West Victoria. Provides sexual assault and related trauma support, overlapping with Emma House's client base of women and children experiencing family violence.
• Women's Legal Service Victoria: State-wide specialist women's legal service offering free legal advice, representation, and advocacy for women experiencing family violence. Directly comparable to Emma House Legal Program in client base, service scope, and community legal centre model.
• Meli (formerly Bethany): South West Victoria social services organisation collaborating with Emma House on MARAM Collaborative Practice training. Comparable as a regional community services and family support organisation in the same geographic catchment.
• Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service Victoria: Provides culturally safe legal and family violence support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim-survivors across Victoria. Comparable to Emma House in legal program structure, target population, and free-service delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• McAuley Community Services for Women: Larger Melbourne-based specialist family violence and homelessness service. Comparable operating model (crisis accommodation, case management, family violence programs) but at greater scale and geographic breadth than Emma House.
• Berry Street: Large Victorian not-for-profit providing family violence, child, and family services. Comparable in service mix (case management, crisis accommodation, therapeutic services) but operates statewide at much greater scale.

Regional players

• Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative: Warrnambool-based Aboriginal community-controlled health and social services organisation. Comparable regional catchment and overlapping client base with Emma House; serves a culturally specific population alongside general family violence services.

Others

• Domestic Violence Victoria: Peak body for specialist family violence services in Victoria. Not a direct competitor, but represents the sector of which Emma House is a member and sets practice standards influencing Emma House's operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emma-house-domestic-family-violence-services

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services