No to Violence has welcomed the Victorian State Government’s investment of $185 million to address family violence.
No to Violence Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Watt said she was pleased to see $85 million would be spent over four years on programs to engage with men who use violence and change their behaviour and $8.5 million would be spent over two years through the Department of Justice to continue the Family Violence Perpetrator Interventions Grants Program.
Ms Watt also welcomed the $28.7 million for the Dhelk Dja 10-year Aboriginal Family Violence agreement, including $9.9 million for the development of Aboriginal Access Points to expand the Orange Door network.
No to Violence is the peak body for organisations and individuals working with men to end their violence and abuse towards family members.
No to Violence Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Watt said:
“We are pleased with the Victorian State Government’s commitment to continuing investment in family violence, with a focus on creating a system of perpetrator interventions that target the issue at its source.
“We are hopeful that the continued funding for the perpetrator system will give us opportunities to strengthen our evidence base and trial new ways of working that will open the door for future leadership in this area.
“We are seeing real increases in demand for men’s services and interventions. While this continuation of investment is significant, there remain real gaps for victim-survivors who call on us to support men to change their behaviour.
“Fundamentally, we must continue to work with men who use family violence otherwise we will continue to see women and children murdered, suffering permanent injury and illness, all as a result of men’s use of family violence.”
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Media enquiries:
No to Violence
0413 547 389 or communications@ntv.org.au