Wednesday, 31 January 2018

The Andrews Labor Government is taking further action to stop family violence and violence against women before it starts.

Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins today announced $3.8 million for the women’s health sector to work with regional, local-level partners – such as local government, sporting groups and local businesses – in the primary prevention of violence against women.

An additional $1.48 million over four years will go towards preventing family violence against women with disabilities and better understanding what drives this violence.

The two funding announcements coincide with the release of the Labor Government’s First Action Plan under its strategy to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women –  Free from Violence.

Immediate actions under the First Action Plan include:

• Expanding the prevention workforce
• Increasing successful and promising prevention activities
• Building knowledge about what works in preventing family violence
• Supporting Aboriginal communities to lead new approaches to prevention
• Delivering the second stage of the major family violence behaviour change advertising campaign

Critical prevention work will be pursued in a range of settings and communities across Victoria, including workplaces, tertiary education, local government, the media, sporting clubs, Aboriginal communities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) communities, older people, and culturally diverse communities.

Further actions will be announced over the coming weeks, including programs designed to reach Victorians where they live, work and learn.

It builds on the $15.5 million in the Victorian Budget 2017/18 to deliver prevention of family violence initiatives, and $3 million to support the establishment of the Family Violence Prevention Agency in this financial year.  This funding responds to Recommendation 187 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins:

“We want all Victorians to feel safe, thrive and live free from family violence – that’s what this investment is all about.”

 “This funding will support our local communities and their workforces to better understand what drives violence against women, and ultimately prevent it from occurring in the first place.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victorian Region, Harriet Shing:

“Family violence is the biggest law and order issue in Gippsland, and we are implementing every single recommendation of the Family Violence Royal Commission by funding organisations such as Gippsland Women’s Health to break the cycle of family violence and provide better support to victims and survivors all over the region.”