Vic domestic violence program expanded

A pilot program to protect women and children from domestic violence will be expanded in a $4.5 million boost in the Victorian state budget.

The program, which already runs in the Geelong and Hume regions, will start up in eight new areas as a result of funding in Tuesday's 2014/15 budget.

The Strengthening Risk Management program brings together family violence and human services, police, corrections and courts to keep women and children safe and hold dangerous perpetrators to account.

The funding will provide for each area to have a full-time worker to coordinate information-sharing and support victims by linking them to services they need.

Last month, Melbourne mother of four Fiona Warzywoda, 33, was allegedly stabbed to death by her partner in front of lunchtime shoppers.

Her partner of 18 years, 38-year-old Sunshine North man Craig McDermott, has been charged with her murder.

Eleven-year-old Luke Batty murdered by his father Greg Anderson after cricket training in February, before he was shot dead by police.