The services shut down for a year between mid-2015 and mid-2016 due to resourcing issues.

During that time, Daylesford women suffering family violence were required to travel to Ballarat to meet with WRISC workers.

While WRISC said women did travel for the services, they typically didn’t engage with services as easily if they were located at a distance.

The services were reinstated about six weeks ago, with WRISC securing a desk at Child and Family Services in Daylesford.

The good news comes after a recent visit from the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Fiona Richardson, who visited CAFS in Daylesford to discuss Hepburn Shire’s response following the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

Family violence offences are 65 per cent higher in regional and rural areas than metropolitan Melbourne.

Chief executive Libby Jewson said a Ballarat outreach worker had been visiting the township fortnightly.

“We’re really pleased we’re now able to offer that service again. The other thing is we’re really working collaboratively with the Hepburn Family Violence Action Group,” she said.

“It means that women who are experiencing family violence will be able to have some support in Daylesford.”

WRISC also recently produced a series of video clips around the theme of family violence, created in collaboration with the Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-op and Silverpod Productions.

The videos were developed by listening to stories from women and children and developing artwork from both an adult and child perspective.

The WRISC children’s counselling team stated one aspect of family violence was destroying the connection between mothers and children, leading young people vulnerable to long-term psychological issues.

To view the videos, visit wrisc.org.au/break-the-cycle-video-clips.php