The Andrews Labor Government is testing new and innovative approaches to end family violence and hold perpetrators to account.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos today announced $4.8 million to trial and evaluate seven new perpetrator intervention programs which target diverse groups.
These trials acknowledge that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to combating family violence, while also encouraging community-based initiatives and recognising the importance of keeping all perpetrators accountable.
The trials will run until July 2019 and include:
- Bethany Community Support (in the Greater Geelong, Queenscliff and Surf Coast regions) to work with men who have cognitive impairments
- Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative & Centre for Non-Violence (in Bendigo) delivering health interventions, with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal fathers
- InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence (in Greater Dandenong) to deliver in-language interventions for those from culturally diverse backgrounds
- Baptcare & Berry Street (in Ballarat and Melbourne) to work with female perpetrators including Aboriginal women.
The new programs respond to Recommendation 87 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, which urged further interventions for perpetrators beyond the current men’s behaviour change programs.
This investment comes on top of the Labor Government’s $7.4 million to trial perpetrator case management, as well as a further $9.1 million to create an extra 4,000 community-based men’s behaviour change places in 2018-19.
The case management trial will provide access for up to 2,000 places across Victoria and includes dedicated funding for Aboriginal and LGBTI service providers.
Under the new and enhanced men’s behaviour change program, it has been extended from 12 to 20 weeks, and include additional support for victim-survivors and their families.
It is part of the Labor Government’s unprecedented $2.6 billion investment since 2017 to help end family violence and includes a record $60.1 million over four years for the Changing Perpetrator Behaviour program.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“We are doing everything in our power to end family violence – the number one law and order issue in our state.”
“Unfortunately, family violence is a scourge that knows no boundaries and these new trials acknowledge we have more work to do addressing it in all of our communities.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020