A new agency, Family Safety Victoria, will drive and deliver the Andrew Labor Government’s unprecedented action to end family violence.
As part of a $1.91 billion package of measures in the Victorian Budget 2017/18, $60 million will fund the establishment of Family Safety Victoria, the state’s first-ever agency solely dedicated to delivering family violence reform.
From 1 July, Family Safety Victoria will lead the implementation of new initiatives, including establishing the Central Information Point, which will allow police, courts and government services to track perpetrators and keep victims safe.
The agency will also be responsible for establishing the Centre for Workforce Excellence and 17 Support and Safety Hubs across the state, to give victims the support they need to recover.
The details of Family Safety Victoria and how the Labor Government will deliver $1.91 billion of investment is contained in the Family Violence Rolling Action Plan, released today. The Plan details the next steps in the Labor Government’s 10 Year Agenda to implement every recommendation from Australia’s first Royal Commission into Family Violence.
The $1.91 billion package in the Victorian Budget 2017/18 includes:
- $448.1 million to establish 17 Support and Safety Hubs across the state
- $270.8 million for after-hours crisis support, counselling and therapy for tens of thousands of women and their children
- $269.4 million to implement five Specialist Family Violence Courts across the state and make the system more responsive to victims’ needs
- $133.2 million will go towards extra long-term housing, more rental assistance, improved crisis accommodation and better support for people fleeing family violence
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“Together, we’ll make sure victims have a safe place to go, and that perpetrators are held to account.”
“Now we've delivered our Budget and an action plan, we're getting on with the job."'
Quotes attributable to Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings
“We’ve set ourselves a mammoth task. This new agency will help make it a reality.”
“We promised we’d spare nothing when it came to putting an end to family violence – we’re keeping that promise.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020