History

• 1988
• WRISC begins operation at 22 East St. managed by the Central Highlands Women's Collective, funded by Community Services Victoria under the Supported Accommodation Assistance Sub-Programme "Women's Emergency Services Program (WESP)"
• 1989
• "Women's Waves" radio program every Thursday on 3BBB.
• 1990
• DV Roadshow education campaign commences.
• "Who Dares, Cares" - Young Women's Group commences.
• Ballarat Lesbian Support & Social Group commences.
• WRISC becomes the only "women's only" space in Ballarat.
• 1991
• Women's Resource Guide first published
• Workshops for young women about self-esteem and assertiveness (WRISC & Ballarat East Community House)
• 1993
• Crisis Accommodation Program (CAP) established. Dept of Planning & Development purchases CAP House on behalf of WRISC.
• WRISC moves to 119 Lyons Street North, Ballarat
• International Day Against Violence Against Women" - Silent vigil
• 1994
• 'Reclaim the Night' march with WRISC & CASA
• 1995
• Expanded hours - 9am - 5:30pm Tuesday to Friday
• 1996
• WRISC becomes global through www.wrisc.ballarat.net.au
• 1997
• WRISC open 5 days a week
• Outreach to shires of Hepburn, Moorabool, Pyrenees and Golden Plains.
• 1999
• Commencement of SAFE program, after-hours family violence support.
• Children's worker commenced at WRISC
• 2003
• First worker for the newly funded Indigenous Program.
• 2006
• Structural change to the organisation. Program Manager employed for the first time.
• Indigenous Worker commences
• 2007
• Decision to have a Board of Governance that would control & manage the affairs of the CHWC
  
  
  
• 2009
• QICSA accreditation successfully completed
• 2010
• March - purchase of 125 Eureka Street, Ballarat
• 2011
• January - Relocation to refurbished 125 Eureka Street
• Establishment of a volunteer program for reception/administration
• Senior Family Violence Support Worker position created and filled
• 2012
• Launch of the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
• Establishment of an Indigenous Trainee Position
• 2013
• One DHS & ASES accreditation successfully completed.
• Additional Children's Counsellor employed
• 2014
• August - Beginning of development three year Strategic Plan : 2015 to 2018
• November - Full Board elected at Annual General Meeting
• 2015
• February - Development of the facilitated leadership model Turning Point: our collective spirit 2015
• April - Adoption of the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan
• WRISC Disability Action Plan - 2015
• 2016
• WRISC Organisation Chart - 2016
• February - Accreditation successfully completed - WRISC assessed as fully satisfying all standards by QIP (Quality Innovation Performance).  WRISC's performance assessed against 2 sets of standards being:  1. Human Services Standards, Health & Human Services, Victoria and 2. Australian Service Excellence Standards - Certificate Level
• March 29 - Royal Commission into Family Violence tables its report containing 227 recommendations
• April - Victorian Government pledges half a billion dollars as a "down payment" to begin implementing the Royal Commission's recommendations in full
• November - Victorian Government releases 10 year plan - "Ending Family Violence  Victoria's Plan for Change" 
  
• December 19 - Relocation to larger premises at 205 Dana St in the Ballarat CBD necessitated by an increase demand for WRISC's services and a corresponding increase in staff numbers
• 2017
  
• January - Full time worker located in Bacchus Marsh
• May - Van Go submission successful - Located in Bacchus Marsh, Van Go is a new experimental model with mobile therapy vans taking servies to children affected by family violence