Funding Boost To End Family And Sexual Violence

The Andrews Labor Government is continuing to drive its nation-leading reforms to tackle family and sexual violence through its national partnership with the Federal Government.

Victoria is receiving $47.2 million from the Federal Government, in three separate instalments in 2022 and 2023, under the National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2021-2023.

The funding will continue Victoria’s national leading family and sexual violence reforms by supporting agencies to address the needs of victim survivors, furthering work with perpetrators and supporting diverse communities to access services.

Jesuit Social Services (JSS) will receive $3 million through the National Partnership payments to support their work with men and boys at risk of using violence against women, including assisting workers to support young people to address harmful attitudes that perpetuate violence.

This funding complements Victoria’s nation leading investment of $3.7 billion in preventing and responding to family violence.

Victoria also received $15.7 million in December 2021 under the first payment, which is supporting the delivery of services for victim survivors of family violence and Aboriginal victim survivors of sexual assault, as well as legal services and training for practitioners to work with perpetrators.

A focus of this round of funding will be improving the accessibility of services for multicultural communities for victim survivors of sexual assault and family violence, including for young people using violence in the home and their families.

The National Partnership provides funding across four payments to state and territory governments for ongoing work to respond to family violence and sexual violence.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Ros Spence

“Our vision for a life free from violence for every Victorian is ambitious and broad reaching. This funding goes a long way to achieving that goal.”

“We know there’s always more that can be done to end family and gendered violence and we’re committed to the task of building a nation-leading family and sexual violence system.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth

“It is unacceptable that one woman dies in Australia every ten days at the hands of their current or former partner.”

“As a result of this funding boost, we will see better access to critical support services for victim-survivors, including in regional, rural and remote areas.”