A growing body of evidence shows that AV’s Rapid Response™ model has been highly successful at keeping families together as a positive alternative to the child protection system. It has operated since 2014 and now operates in five regions across Victoria.

The program aims to prevent children being placed in Out of Home Care (OoHC) by providing families with short-term and intensive (up to 15 hours per week) of face to face support. A safety-focused plan is developed with child protection and the family, and provide intensive, in-home support to address the crisis.

Rapid Response Practitioners focus on addressing the protective concerns utilising a strengths-based approach that incorporates coaching and role modelling to build on parental strengths, skills, knowledge and resources to increase the levels of safety within the home.

Those eligible for Rapid Response:

  • Children aged 0-16.
  • Families are at imminent risk of a Protection Application by Emergency Care and placing the child in Out of Home Care (first priority).
  • Families who are Case Managed by Child Protection and are at risk of a Breach to their current order, and the child being placed in Out of Home Care.

Referrals come from the Child Protection and the DHHS only. To learn more about Rapid Response or our other Evidence Based programs, please contact david.poynter@angicarevic.org.au


160 families at risk of having their children put into out of home care were supported by Rapid Response. After completing the program, 94.5% of children remained in the care of their families.


Find a location

Look through our office locations that provide this service
view locations