Specialist family violence support workers and lawyers are in two of Victoria's busiest family law courts in a bid to keep children and families safe from family violence.
Senator James Paterson will officially launch the Family Advocacy and Support Services on Tuesday afternoon, which has stationed experts at the Melbourne and Dandenong courts since May 1.
The staff will assist victims to access legal and social support services, and aid perpetrators to leave their violent behaviours behind.
Family, Youth and Children's Law executive director Nicole Rich said the service "combines legal advice, risk screening, safety planning, social support and referrals".
'It is the first time people coming to these courts who are affected by family violence can be directed straight to the different support services they need," she said.
'Previously, they would have been given a phone number by a duty lawyer, but in many cases they would have nowhere to go after that - often leaving significant issues that contribute to family violence unresolved."
Ms Rich said about 80 per cent of all legal aid cases at the family courts had an element of family violence.
Victoria Legal Aid established the service with money from the federal government's National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 until June 30 next year.
