Mother Infant Village

Mother Infant Village (MI Village) is a day program and residential village for mothers and children who have experienced family violence.

MI Village is a holistic, trauma-informed program located in Ballarat, Western Victoria. It aims to intervene early and provide a safe and nurturing environment to support young mothers and infants to recover from the impact of family violence.

We extend our thanks and appreciation to our philanthropic partners whose generous support enabled us to launch MI Village.

How it works

MI Village offers mothers and children an opportunity to:

• have personal and psychological safety
• recover from trauma
• build and strengthen positive and healthy relationships
• develop a healthy and secure attachment relationship
• rebuild their lives free from violence.

There are 2 streams of the program:

1. Community Access - a day program that provides educational and therapeutic support for mothers and children.
2. MI Village Residential – independent accommodation for mothers and their children for up to 12 months.

Community Access

Community Access offers participants a range of educational and therapeutic supports. Mothers and their children can attend individual appointments and group sessions, such as:

• individual family violence specialised counselling
• individual family violence specialised therapy support
• baby massage
• educational programs to support independent living.

Eligibility criteria for community access program

Community access is available to mothers who:

• are pregnant or have a child up to 4 years old
• have experienced family violence
• are willing to engage with workers and other participants in group activities, individual support and planning.

MI Village Residential

MI Village Residential offers safe, independent accommodation for mothers and children who have experienced family violence.

MI Village Residential can support a mother and baby in a 1 bedroom unit for a period of up to 12 months. During this time, they receive an individualised program that will meet the needs of both mother and child. The plan is made in partnership with the mother through case planning and coordination.

Eligibility criteria for MI Village Residential

MI Village Residential is available to mothers who:

• are aged 17 years and over
• have experienced family violence
• are pregnant and able to enter the program during their third trimester, or have 1 child up to 2 years old
• do not require accommodation for another older sibling
• are willing to engage with other residents and participate in group activities, and individual support and planning
• have Centrelink income or a job to support them to live independently
• are open to discussions regarding possible risks which may come about during tenancy (including family violence, new intimate relationships, substance use, and so on)
• are happy to lease a residential unit on-site in Ballarat, Western Victoria.

Referrals and accessing this service

Organisations and services can refer mothers to MI Village Residential and Community Access. Mothers can also self-refer in certain circumstances.

Please contact us for more information on how to make a referral.

Contact us

For more information or to find out how to make a referral to MI Village, please contact the Program Coordinator on 03 5330 5000 or mivillage@berrystreet.org.au.