Victorians will have access to more family violence support services at their local community legal centres thanks to $1.3 million in funding from the Andrews Labor Government.
Attorney-General Martin Pakula today visited the West Heidelberg Community Legal Service – one of 28 centres across Victoria to receive a Community Legal Centre (CLC) Family Violence Fund grant.
It will get more than $47,500 for a specialist family violence lawyer to work closely with the Berry Street North Family and Domestic Violence Service, providing outreach services to family violence victims in the Banyule area.
The funding will also mean more family violence victims receive support, and they will be able to access legal services faster.
The grants will support community legal centres across Victoria with a range of family violence-related services including:
- reinstating intervention order support services at some magistrates’ courts
- assisting women with disabilities who are also experiencing family violence
- continuing women’s homelessness prevention programs
- family violence outreach clinics for pregnant women in hospital
- financial and economic abuse assistance
- youth workers to support young people exposed to family violence
Other successful applicants include the Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre, Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre and Women's Legal Service Victoria.
The CLC Family Violence Fund grants program is part of the $4.6 million funding package delivered for family violence-related legal services in the Victorian Budget 2016/17.
The Government provided $1.2 million to 23 community legal centres for family violence duty lawyer services, which help victims of family violence with legal proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court.
Victoria Legal Aid also received the $2.1 million to continue providing free family violence legal services.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula
“We’re delivering more family violence support services across Victoria to help those most in need.”
“Community legal centres play a crucial role to help victims in court, secure housing and resolve family violence-related debts.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines
“This funding will help the West Heidelberg Community Legal Service to support some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community.”
“I congratulate the centre and thank the staff for the important work they do to support victims of family violence.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020