Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women) (09:44): I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of staff developing and working in the services of the Orange Door network across Melbourne’s west, in particular in the Brimbank, Melton and western Melbourne regions. These practitioners provide vital support to individuals and families in my electorate of Sydenham and many others around there. For those that are experiencing family violence and needing help and care with the wellbeing of themselves and their children, the work that these workers deliver is absolutely life changing. The Orange Door network in the west is delivered through partnerships with organisations like Western Health, Anglicare and MacKillop, GenWest, the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association. Together they demonstrate what genuine collaboration looks like – an integrated service system working as one to keep families safe and hold perpetrators to account. Back at home in each of these agencies the work continues, supporting families referred from the Orange Door in case management and other types of support. Melbourne’s west is one of the fastest growing and most diverse regions, and the complexity and scale of demand continues to increase. I want to acknowledge Family Safety Victoria for its ongoing leadership in strengthening integration across the service system and building workforce capacity. We have a new access point in Footscray, which I am really excited for.