Ballarat leads Australia with launch of groundbreaking For Baby’s Sake program

Referrals are now open for Australia's first For Baby's Sake program, supporting families during the critical first 1,000 days of a child's life.

Child and Family Services Ballarat (Cafs) has today opened referrals for Australia's first For Baby's Sake program, placing Ballarat at the forefront of innovative approaches to supporting families and preventing family violence.

For Baby's Sake is an internationally recognised program that has supported families affected by family violence for more than a decade, with evaluations showing reductions in physical violence of up to 72%.

Working with parents from the second trimester of pregnancy until their child reaches two years of age, the program takes a whole-family, trauma-informed approach to strengthening relationships, improving safety and wellbeing, and building parenting confidence.

The program focuses on the first 1,000 days of life, from conception up to the age of two, a period widely recognised as one of the most important stages of child development. During this time, the foundations for brain development, secure attachment, lifelong wellbeing and healthy relationships are established. By supporting families during this critical and life-changing period, For Baby's Sake aims to address the impacts of trauma and family violence before they become entrenched, helping to break intergenerational cycles of harm and give babies the best possible start in life.

Following extensive planning and collaboration across the region, referrals officially open today, 7 September 2026.

The launch reflects a significant investment by both Respect Ballarat and Cafs and reinforces Ballarat's reputation as a national leader in family violence prevention and early intervention.

A Community Working Together for Families

A key strength of the program is the network of partnerships developed to support participating families.

Over recent months, Cafs has worked closely with organisations across health, family violence, child and family services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, local government and community services to establish referral pathways and coordinated support for families.

Key partners include The Orange Door, Child Protection (DFFH), Victoria Police, City of Ballarat, Grampians Health, BADAC, Ballarat Community Health, St John of God Hospital, CatholicCare and many others.

"We are incredibly proud that Ballarat is leading Australia in implementing this innovative program and contributing to evidence about what works for babies, parents and families,” said Laura Humphris, Implementation Lead for Cafs For Baby's Sake program.

"The response from organisations across Ballarat has been extraordinary. There is a genuine commitment across our community to supporting families earlier and preventing harm before it occurs."

This collaborative approach helps ensure families can access the right support at the right time, while strengthening connections and shared responses across the broader service system.

Delivering on the Respect Ballarat Vision and Building Evidence for Australia

As a key initiative of the Respect Ballarat project, For Baby's Sake demonstrates how communities can work together to prevent violence before it occurs. By bringing together health services, family violence services, child and family services, government agencies and community organisations, the program strengthens referral pathways, builds local capability and creates more opportunities for earlier intervention and coordinated care.

As Australia's first implementation of the model, the program will not only support local families but also generate valuable evidence to inform future investment and expansion across the country. Cafs will undertake a comprehensive two-year evaluation examining implementation, participant outcomes and system-wide learnings, contributing to national understanding of infant wellbeing, trauma recovery and family violence prevention.

The initiative has already attracted interest from local, state and federal leaders seeking innovative approaches to supporting families earlier and preventing harm before it occurs. Cafs has also shared learnings with government and sector stakeholders, including contributing to discussions informing the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.

Referral information

Referrals open: 4 September 2026
Program commences: 12 October 2026

For Baby's Sake is an internationally recognised early intervention program developed by the UK-based For Baby's Sake Trust. The program works with expectant parents and families with babies under two years of age, supporting healthy relationships, trauma recovery, safety and positive outcomes for children.