The Andrews Labor Government has reached another major milestone in its nation-leading work to end family violence in Victoria.
Following the Royal Commission into Family Violence in 2016, the Labor Government announced an ambitious plan: 10 years to rebuild Victoria’s family violence system. Today, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Ros Spence announced the Government has implemented all 227 recommendations of the Royal Commission.
The Royal Commission revealed the devastating prevalence and impact of family violence and set out a framework for whole-of-system reform to end family violence in Victoria.
Six years on from the Royal Commission, the Government has invested more than $3.7 billion to prevent and respond to family violence - more than every other state and territory combined.
Key recommendations include establishing Specialist Family Violence Courts and the rollout of the state-wide Orange Door Network, which has fundamentally changed the way the system responds to family violence. Since first opening in 2018, the Network has assisted more than 267,000 people, including more than 107,000 children.
The Government is building an inclusive family violence system that responds to the needs of all Victorians, including a community-led, self-determined response to end family violence against Aboriginal people through the Dhelk Dja Agreement.
Perpetrators are being kept in sight with expanded community-based interventions and accommodation programs – informed by a new, comprehensive view of risk through the Central Information Point.
From the roll-out of the Orange Door Network and establishing the nation’s first dedicated prevention agency, Respect Victoria, to delivering Respectful Relationships programs in more than 1,950 schools – the Labor Government is leading the nation in family violence reforms.
While there is still much more work to do, the Labor Government is working to end family violence and all forms of violence against women by continuing to build on the progress made through the reforms.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Ros Spence
“We are building a Victoria that is free from violence. Through this work, we’re shifting the dial on attitudes and behaviors that lead to violence and strengthening the nation-leading family violence system we’ve built.”
“Victoria owes victim survivors a great debt for their generosity in sharing their stories and experiences, so that we can continue to improve the way we prevent and respond to family violence.”
“The Andrews Labor Government continues to ensure the lived experiences of victim survivors of family violence are at the forefront of reform, policy and service delivery.”
Reviewed 27 January 2023