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RESTORE Program

Program to support families in situations where young people are using violence in the home

Jesuit Social Services logoWhat is the RESTORE Program?

Delivered by Jesuit Social Services, RESTORE is a program operating out of the Melbourne Children’s Court designed to support families in situations where young people are using violence in the home.

In this program a Family Group Conference is offered to help the young person and their family develop practical solutions that will keep people safe and prevent further violence occurring at home.

Who can access the RESTORE Program?

The RESTORE program is available to young people who are respondents to family violence intervention order applications at the Melbourne Children’s Court where:

  • there is no current child protection involvement
  • the young person is living at home (or likely to return to the home soon)

How does the RESTORE Program work?

On the day of a court hearing a magistrate can direct that a young person and their family be referred to a convenor to discuss participation in the RESTORE Program.

When a referral is made the magistrate will allow time for a RESTORE convenor to meet with the young person and their family to talk about the program and conduct a suitability assessment.

If the matter is assessed as suitable and all parties consent to participation in the program the magistrate will adjourn the intervention order application for up to three months (with or without an interim intervention order).

During the adjournment period the RESTORE convenor will work closely with the young person and their family as they participate in a structured Family Group Conference to address the use of violence at home.

When the application returns to court the convenor will prepare a brief report for the magistrate documenting the outcome of the Family Group Conference to assist when determining whether to make a final intervention order.

What are the aims of the Family Group Conference?

The aims of the Family Group Conference include:

  • Help the young person to understand the impact of their violence
  • Increase the safety of family members living in the home
  • Address the harm that has been caused by the young person’s use of violence
  • Restore relationships between family members
  • Develop and implement strategies that will reduce the likelihood of the young person continuing to use violence in the home

Further information

For further information about the RESTORE Program please contact the Family Violence Registrar or Family Violence Practitioners at the Melbourne Children’s Court on (03) 8638 3300 or via email.