The Andrews Labor Government is giving family violence workers the skills they need to help more families and children in the Goulburn Valley.
Visiting the Shepparton child protection office Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos today met with a specialist family violence worker who is now working in Shepparton and Seymour.
By placing family violence workers and child protection workers together, families will be better able to quickly access the services and help they need to keep them safe.
The Government is investing nearly $550,000 over five years for Primary Care Connect through the Family Violence Child Protection Partnership – a $17.5 million initiative that puts family violence workers at the centre of child protection practice.
Family violence can have a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, as well as placing families at risk of further trauma and crisis.
This program is in line with several recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence, including providing more support for women and children involved with the child protection system.
Earlier this year, the Government’s $168 million Roadmap for Reform was introduced to shift the children and family services system from crisis response to prevention and early intervention.
It includes major investments in support services, extra child protection workers, culturally sensitive support for Aboriginal children, and more foster and kinship carers, including Aboriginal carers.
We are also improving the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people in, or at risk of entering, out-of-home care in the region.
The Aboriginal Children’s panel, co-chaired by the child protection and Rumbalara Aborginal Cooperative, was established to ensure that Aboriginal families involved with child protection receive culturally sensitive support.
In addition, there has been a focus on recruiting Aboriginal child protection practitioners and training non-Aboriginal child protection practitioners to work in a culturally sensitive way.
Quote attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“Family violence is a key reason why we see notifications to child protection. That’s why we’re strengthening child protection’s resources to deal with family violence and helping families in the Goulburn Valley get the support they need, when they need it.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020