Premier

Reducing Family Violence In Aboriginal Communities

20 February 2017

The Andrews Labor Government is working to reduce family violence in Aboriginal communities by investing in projects that focus on cultural strengthening and building more resilient communities.

40 new projects have been funded to prevent and raise awareness of family violence in Aboriginal communities across Victoria.

These projects were recommended by the 11 Indigenous Family Violence Regional Action Groups that identified priority areas for funding in their community and include:

  • Supporting Aboriginal women in outer eastern Melbourne who have been victims of family violence with legal, family violence and maternal and child health information sessions
  • A preventative project for fathers in Geelong and surrounds will use traditional methods such as storytelling and community discussions to help build strong family relationships
  • Healing Our Mob in the Ballarat area will bring the community together to talk about the impact of family violence and how to address the problem
  • Cultural training and workshops will also be held to educate family violence workers

The $650,000 investment is part of the 2016-17 Indigenous Family Violence Strategy Community Initiatives Fund.

The Government is implementing all 227 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence. As part of its 10-year plan to end family violence, the Government recently announced Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s Plan for Change.

The plan includes working in partnership with Aboriginal communities, increased funding for the Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice and Support Service, as well as the establishment of a network of Support and Safety Hubs across Victoria.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“Family violence has a devastating impact on Aboriginal communities. An Aboriginal person is eight times more likely to be involved in a reported family violence incident than a non-Indigenous person.”

“It’s critical that culturally relevant, local responses are developed to prevent, reduce and respond to family violence in Aboriginal communities.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins

We want to put Aboriginal Victorians at the forefront of tackling these issues in their own communities and that is why having culturally relevant policies is so important. This is about preventing and responding to family violence so real change can occur.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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