b'Support for familiesFostering connections escaping family violence through foodThe Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) wasOur team in Bridgewater in Tasmania were launched in October 2021 by the federalsuccessful in securing funding through government and has already helped thousands Communities for Children to run a six-month of people with financial assistance andpilot project called Home Grown. This program confidential support to establish a life free fromuses gardening to focus on strengthening family violence. Uniting Vic.Tas has been leading family relationships, resilience, mental wellness a national UnitingCare network delivering the challenges, while also addressing food insecurity. EVP trial program. The EVP program offers up Families are assisted to plan out their garden, buy to $5000 in assistance for individuals who have the materials, plant their gardens and develop left a violent situation. Support packages arethe skills and knowledge to maintain it. Produce is tailored to each person or familys needs and then harvested when ready and recipes are shared can include access to services such as counsellingto make use of the food for family meals.and housing support, household essentials and help with financial matters. Update to Newpin programUniting in northern Tasmania has recently Orange Door Networkchanged the model of its Newpin program to opens in new location reflect the model used in southern areas of the state. Newpin is a program that focuses on Families across Melbournes north now haveparenting skills and the importance of bonding easier access to the family violence support andand attachment between a parent and child. wellbeing services they need, with the HumeThe program is designed to build strong, healthy Moreland Orange Door Network opened infamily relationships and focuses on issues such February 2022. The Orange Door Network is a as isolation, family violence, mental health, social key recommendation of the Royal Commissiondisadvantage and low self-esteem. The new into Family Violence and brings togethermodel provides more practical support, like how workers from specialist family violence, childto acquire cheap or free food and how to cook and family, mens and Aboriginal services to helpit into a wholesome meal. There is also a child families in crisis. The Hume Moreland Orangefocused worker, who works alongside an adult Door Network is a partnership between Unitingfocused worker to provide therapeutic play and Vic.Tas, Berry Street, DPV Health, Victoriandevelopment tasks for families to participate in.Aboriginal Childcare Agency, Victoria Aboriginal Community Services Association and the Victorian Government to ensure families canFind out more about family servicesaccess the support they need in one place.Uniting Vic.Tas Annual Report 2021-2022 29'