Anew digital Family Safety Portal (FSP) will be launched in Mount Gambier, which will enable quick, easy and secure information sharing for domestic violence workers.

The FSP will help domestic violence workers who are helping women and children at the highest risk of serious harm or death from domestic violence.

The portal will be piloted in three South Australian regions, including the Limestone Coast, in mid-June with a full state-wide roll out by the end of the year.

The portal offers a secure digital environment for use by police, health, child protection and other government and non-government agencies to share information and develop strategies to reduce risk of harm from domestic, family and sexual violence.

The digital platform will make risk assessment and making referrals to a Family Safety Meeting in a confidential online environment easier for organisations responding to domestic violence.

The FSP was developed by the Office for Women and addresses additional challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic for the domestic violence sector by allowing agencies to hold online meetings and share data securely.

Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Katrine Hildyard said the FSP would improve how agencies and support services collaborated to ensure they provided comprehensive and fully informed responses to women and children at high risk of harm.

“I am committed to ensuring that South Australia works to prevent violence and provides the best possible support to women and children experiencing it,” Minister Hildyard said.

“This is one of many strategies that … will be rolling out to ensure that every woman and every child has the best opportunity to live a life free of violence.”