In the years since the Royal Commission into Family Violence, we have seen incredible investment into major reforms. 

Building on the investment from previous years, and in a context that tightens spending across critical community services, the 2023-34 Victorian Budget does include $77 million to continue delivering support for victim survivors of family violence and sexual assault and perpetrator intervention initiatives over the next four years. This includes ongoing funding for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to deliver family violence and sexual assault services and the establishment of a collaborative crisis accommodation model for people at high risk of family violence with very high support needs.  

A further $23 million towards providing access to specialist legal assistance in seven new family violence courts is also welcome.  

Even with this investment, there are persistent gaps, barriers and pressure points that remain in the family violence system due to increasing demand and need.  

Disappointingly, this budget contains no notable investment into increasing access to social and affordable housing. 

Last year, we welcomed the announcement of funding for two new refuges as well as upgrades to existing locations that would increase capacity within Victoria’s stretched specialist family violence emergency accommodation system. 

But victim survivors are getting stuck in crisis accommodation, with nowhere safe and affordable for services to move them into long-term. This year’s budget papers show that people experiencing family violence are facing an average wait time of 20 months for priority public housing, up from last year’s already unacceptable 17 months. Due to a critical lack of suitable options, many victim survivors of family violence are facing an impossible choice between homelessness and abuse. 

Until the government commits to developing more social housing properties and investing long-term into initiatives that enable people to remain safely in their own homes, access to safety and recovery for victim survivors will continue to be limited. 

The Victorian Government made an ambitious commitment to rebuild our family violence system and backed this with incredible investment in the years since the Royal Commission into Family Violence. These reforms have laid the foundations for a system that can give victim survivors a voice, a home, and a timely and clear pathway to recovery. 

Victoria has led the way in preventing and responding to family violence, but we have a long way to go to ensure a flexible and accessible system that works for everyone.  

We look forward to continuing to work with the Andrews Government to realise the vision of a Victoria free from violence.  

The new budget reflects the Albanese government’s commitment to supporting Australians during a time where many are doing it tough; and we are hopeful further funding announcements tied to the new National Plan’s first Action Plan (due for release later this year) will provide the bold and visionary investment required to address family and gender-based violence across the country. 

Of particular note in this budget is the announcement of a further $326.7 million across four years (with $19.4 million per year ongoing) to deliver women’s safety initiatives under the National Plan, including: 

• $159 million over two years from 2023–24 to extend the Family and Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses National Partnership Agreement with state and territory governments and to continue to address service gaps to and support frontline service delivery   
• $38.2 million to extend the current Escaping Violence Payment and Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot to January 2025 
• $12.1 million over four years from 2023–24 to develop and distribute social media resources for young people on consent and to support community-led sexual violence prevention pilots. 

 These funding announcements are welcomed and ensure that some important frontline services for victim survivors are safeguarded against funding cuts for the next two years. 

We are also pleased to see the Government commit $194 million over five years to support the dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan under the National Plan which is still in development, including: 

• $145.3 million over four years from 2023–24, including a provision of $128.6 million in the Contingency Reserve, to support activities which address immediate safety concerns for First Nations women and children who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, family, and domestic and sexual violence   
• $23.2 million over four years from 2023–24 to support families impacted by violence and at risk of engaging in the child protection system, through programs aimed at early intervention and recovery and supporting families   
• $17.6 million over two years from 2023–24 to deliver on family safety initiatives under the Action Plan  
• $7.8 million over four years from 2022–23 (and $4.0 million in 2027–28) to support the development of a standalone First Nations National Plan for Family Safety. 

This announcement shows a commitment to the development and delivery of this dedicated Action Plan, and we hope to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities having the resources and remit to design and deliver the activities to end family violence within their communities. 

Additionally, we welcome the commitment to address the indexation of community services wages, which are expected to increase by $242 million in 2023-24, and by around $4 billion over the four years from 2023 to 2027. While we’re looking forward to knowing more detail about this commitment, we’re hopeful it represents an intention to deliver real wage growth to workers in community services, and that services are funded appropriately to do this. 

While this builds on announcements in the Albanese Government’s first budget, much more needs to be invested into women’s safety initiatives, from primary prevention through to response and recovery. We hope to see additional commitments across the continuum with the release of the first Action Plan, including: 

• Increased investment in long-term primary prevention actions and programming, as articulated in the National Plan 
• The development of a long-term strategic plan focused on building the size and capacity of the prevention workforce 
• Funding to coordinate interstate prevention activities 
• Commitment from both state and federal government to long-term, adequate funding for specialist family violence services, who continue to grapple with increasingly unsustainable demand and limited resources. 

Additionally, we would like to see the government invest in more formal processes and guidance for working with survivor advocates in the design, delivery and evaluation of women’s safety initiatives. While new funding committed in the previous budget was welcome, meaningful engagement with lived experience is crucial and requires greater prioritisation and further investment. 

There are a range of welcome announcements prioritising housing and social security in this budget, including the abolition of ParentsNext, an investment of $1.9 billion over five years to extend eligibility for single parenting payments, and an additional $67.5 million in 2023-24 to boost homelessness funding to states and territories. The increase of $40 per fortnight for people on income support payments is welcomed and long-overdue, but just the start.  

These targeted measures will provide victim survivors with better access to housing and income support, which we know are critical to achieving long-term safety and recovery. However, while increases announced in this budget are a win, they continue to fall short of what is required to combat the rising rates of housing insecurity, homelessness and poverty that more Australians are facing. 

Achieving the cultural and systemic change required to prevent and end family violence in one generation is an ambitious goal, but certainly possible. It requires bold and visionary investment in the initiatives we hope to see outlined in the National Plan’s first Action Plan and dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan. 

Safe and Equal commends the Albanese Government for the focus and prioritisation of women’s safety and gender equality initiatives in this year’s budget, and we look forward to continuing together on the path to realising the vision set out in the National Plan. 

We all deserve safety, respect and the opportunity to thrive, wherever we live, work and play.  

But for many of us, home is not always safe. Our workplace could be the only refuge or place to seek support.   

That is why this year’s Are You Safe At Home? Day is shining a spotlight on the significant role colleagues and employers can play in recognising and responding to family violence. 

With one in three Australian women having experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner since the age of 151 , chances are there’s a survivor of gender-based violence amongst every group of people we know – and workplaces are no exception.  

“Violence impacts around one in six female workers, so we know family violence is a critical workplace issue,” said Tania Farha, Safe and Equal CEO. 

“It’s crucial we include workplaces in conversations about family violence, because they’re part of the solution.” 

Are You Safe At Home? is a national awareness raising initiative, designed to break down the fear and stigma associated with talking about family violence by providing clear information about what to look out for, what supports are available, and how to start a conversation if you’re concerned someone you care about is experiencing abuse.   

Safe and Equal launched Are You Safe At Home? in 2020, during Victoria’s first pandemic lockdowns.  

“During this time, specialist family violence services noticed that calls to support helplines from victim survivors stopped – because they were trapped at home with their perpetrator, there was no safe way to reach out,” said Ms Farha. 

“Instead, they saw calls from friends, family members and even co-workers increase. These were people who were really worried about someone but weren’t sure what to do – and that’s what Are You Safe At Home? is about – giving people in the community the tools and support to be able to recognise and respond to family violence.” 

Since then, Are You Safe At Home? has expanded beyond a pandemic response. 2022 saw the launch of Are You Safe At Home? Day, which is now an annual event on 10 May.   

“This initiative is important because it not only provides tips on how to recognise the signs of family violence and sensitively open up conversations with affected individuals, but it also equips co-workers and loved ones of those experiencing family violence with practical knowledge of available services and supports,” says Survivor Advocate Rachel Croucher. 

“We know that many people experiencing family violence will never contact police or services,” said Ms Farha. 

“Their friends, family and colleagues are often the first line of support – they see things that others don’t and can pick up on some of the more subtle signs that something isn’t right.” 

Are You Safe At Home? Day provides an opportunity for people in the community to get comfortable with starting what can be a difficult and confronting conversation. 

To support this the Are You Safe At Home? website features a suite of accessible tools and resources to help people feel more comfortable and confident to recognise the signs and offer support. 

“It can be really overwhelming to know what to say, what to do or where to start. You may worry that you’ll be interfering if you step in, or that you might say the wrong thing,” said Ms Farha. 

“But you don’t have to be an expert. By starting small and opening up the conversation, asking ‘are you safe at home?’, and by listening and offering support, you can make a world of difference.” 

For Survivor Advocate Martina, when a friend asked whether everything was okay at home it was life changing. 

“This friend asked the right questions and pointed out to me that my abusive partner was gaslighting me and emotionally abusing me and that I deserved better,” said Martina. 

“All it took was one simple question, but it literally saved my life.” 

For Domestic Violence Advocate Carol-Ann Fletcher, remaining non-judgemental and supportive of the victim survivor is crucial. 

“The best thing you can do is let them know you love them and will be there for them, regardless of whether they choose to leave or stay with their abuser,” said Ms Fletcher. 

These considered responses extend to the workplace. A supportive and respectful workplace culture can be a lifeline for people experiencing abuse. 

The recent introduction of paid domestic and family violence leave across Australia is an incredible step forward in recognising that family violence is a workplace issue, and that employers have a responsibility to support people at work when things aren’t safe at home. 

However, according to sector experts, these leave provisions must be supported by structures and policies that promote a supportive and respectful workplace culture, one that challenges the attitudes and behaviours that promote gender inequality – a key driver of family and gender-based violence. 

“All businesses should prioritise the development and implementation of tailored and accessible domestic and family violence workplace policy – and this needs to be underpinned by a safe and equitable workplace culture,” said Ms Farha. 

“We’ve heard stories from victim survivors about both the practical and emotional support workplaces have provided, which have been a vital part of their journey to safety,” said Ms Farha. 

“Sometimes that has been long term emotional support and checking in about safety, both from colleagues and managers; sometimes it has been support to relocate to another work site; sometimes it’s been providing access to a safe and accessible car park for victim survivors who are being stalked.” 

A key message for the community, Ms Farha says, is that family violence is entirely preventable.  

“But the reality is, we need ongoing and coordinated action across all levels of government and the community if things are ever going to change,” said Ms Farha. 

“While no individual can eliminate family violence on their own, we all have a role to play in this.” 

This 10 May, we’re asking all Australians to start the conversation – because we all deserve to feel safe at home. 

For more information, please visit www.areyousafeathome.org.au. 

 

For confidential information, counselling and support for both victim survivors and their loved ones, contact 1800 RESPECT (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). 

For Victorians who need family violence crisis support, contact Safe Steps on 1800 015 188 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).   

For people who are using violence who want to get help, contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.   

(*not their real name)