Further investment in family violence reforms

The investment aims to support families to recover from family violence, further develop the family violence and sexual assault workforce, and increase perpetrator accountability.

The investment includes:

• $87.3 million over four years for flexible support packages
• $10.7 million over four years for perpetrator accountability for family violence
• $9.7 million over four years focused on preventing and responding earlier to family violence in multicultural and faith-based communities
• $8.2 million to grow the family violence and sexual assault support workforce, supporting the coordination of up to 240 traineeships
• Further funding for the implementation of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) framework and information sharing schemes

There is further funding of $1.6 million for the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor for the next two years. It is critical this role continues until the reforms have been fully implemented and the coordinated family violence system is operating as envisioned by the Royal Commission.

This is part of a budget that focuses on gender equality and tackling the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women.

Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams said “putting women at the heart of our recovery from coronavirus will mean we recover stronger and faster as a community. It’s the right thing to do – and the smart thing to do.”

DV Vic and DVRCV will continue to engage with the Victorian Government to ensure that there is additional funding for specialist family violence service delivery in the next budget to respond to increased demand and safeguard the health and wellbeing of this unique and specialist workforce, as well as advocating for further investment into primary prevention.

Read the DV Vic and DVRCV response to the state budget.