Premier

Closing The Gap In Indigenous Family Violence

17 June 2015

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Natalie Hutchins, today highlighted the Andrews Labor Government’s commitment to working together to reduce Aboriginal family violence at the Indigenous Family Violence Partnership Forum in Northcote.

Ms Hutchins said the Labor Government’s $81.3 million injection in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget to address family violence included $1.3 million to deliver initiatives focused on immediate responses to family violence, targeted education and awareness campaigns and to better understand Aboriginal family violence patterns.

The Labor Government has allocated a further $600,000 for Aboriginal organisations to support victims of family violence.

The investments were shaped directly by the Indigenous community on what needs to be actioned to address Aboriginal family violence.

The Labor Government has requested the Royal Commission into Family Violence to provide advice on the needs and experiences of Aboriginal people affected by family violence.

Ms Hutchins said this will provide vital information about how we can collectively strengthen our approach going forward.

Police data from 2013-14 shows that Aboriginal people represented 3.4 per cent of all family violence victims and 3.8 per cent of all perpetrators.

This shows a significant overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in family violence given that Indigenous people make up 0.9 per cent of the Victorian population.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Natalie Hutchins

“Family violence is a national emergency, and we’re working with the Indigenous Family Violence Partnership Forum to address it.”

“The Royal Commission will provide the answers we need on how we can better support Aboriginal family violence victims.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Fiona Richardson

“We know that Aboriginal families are disproportionally represented in incidents of family violence and we need tailored prevention and response programs to better support victims.”

“Initiatives in our first Budget will help address family violence for Aboriginal communities until the Royal Commission hands down its recommendations in February 2016.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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