Supporting family violence victims with the right services


Released 25/07/2017

Today I delivered the first annual Safer Families Ministerial Statement to the Legislative Assembly, outlining the achievements delivered across government in law reform and service delivery, and the broader community in the first 12 months of the Safer Families levy.

We know that family violence is a complex and challenging area, and I have reconfirmed the ACT Government’s ongoing and unwavering commitment to responding to family violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

As the ACT’s first Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, I have been working with colleagues across government to bring the full range of resources and expertise we need to drive long term change.

This is the first time in the ACT’s history that there has been such a dedicated, interconnected, whole of government commitment to address these complex issues. The government is responding to the significant challenges in addressing domestic and family violence by delivering more targeted services and support, while learning and adjusting to a new way of doing things in the ACT.

We are doing this by collaborating with the community sector, and listening to people with lived experiences to drive fundamental reform to the response to family violence in the ACT.

The government has invested more than $4.5 million in the past year in better services to address family violence and support those who have been affected by it. The Government’s commitment to family safety will continue with an investment of $23.5 million over the four years from 2017-18, and the ACT’s Coordinator-General for Family Safety, supported by the Safer Families team, will drive cultural change and reform in partnership with government agencies and the wider community.

The Coordinator-General will continue to prioritise work on a whole of government and community co-design process to develop a Family Safety Hub for the ACT which will work to improve service integration and coordination for families. The co-design process enables frontline and client perspectives as central to the design of the Hub.

In our approach to implementation this year we have been flexible and open to new ideas to make sure that commitments are delivered well and take advantage of new developments, thinking and best practice.

All Canberrans have the right to feel safe, and to be safe. The ACT Government, working hand in hand with the community, is committed to continuing work towards eliminating family violence in our community.

View the Safer Families Ministerial Statement.

View the Safer Families 2017/18 Budget factsheet.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, including sexual assault, you there are a number of programs and organisations that can support you:

  • The Domestic Violence Crisis Service, which aims to promote the safety of people subjected to domestic violence, provide crisis intervention and address the problem of violence and abuse in relationships - (02) 6280 0900 – www.dvcs.org.au/;
  • Legal Aid (ACT Domestic Violence and Protection Order Unit), which provides advice on the process for applying for an order, assistance with submitting an application and representation in court - (02) 6243 3411 – www.legalaidact.org.au;
  • Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, which provides a crisis counselling line, Indigenous community support, counselling to victims and their families, and community education programs - (02) 6247 2525 – http://crcc.org.au/;
  • Beryl Women Inc, which provides supported crisis accommodation to women with dependent children who are escaping domestic and family violence - (02) 6230 6900 - http://www.beryl.org.au/;
  • Toora Women inc, which provides domestic violence accommodation and outreach support, counselling for victims of violence and support for women with drug and alcohol issues – 6247 2399 – www.toora.org.au;
  • EveryMan Australia, which provides counselling, crisis support, outreach services, information and referral to men with complex needs, including family violence - (02) 6230 6999 - http://www.everyman.org.au/; and
  • Victim Support ACT, which provides counselling, court support and advocacy services to victims of crime, including family violence - 1800 822 72 – http://www.victimsupport.act.gov.au/.

- Statement ends -

Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases

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