The Andrews Labor Government is trialling new ways to provide intensive therapeutic support to women, children and their families experiencing family violence in Western Melbourne.

Member for Werribee announced the Government is investing $2,216,278 to trial innovative ways to provide support to families as they recover from the trauma of family violence including in Western Melbourne.

The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)’s demonstration projects locate Culture, Connection and Healing as central to working with Aboriginal men, women, children and families impacted by family violence.  VACCA’s multi-site,

multi-intervention approach includes one on one counselling for women, children and men impacted by family violence,

therapeutic cultural healing groups with women, children and men, group behaviour change programs with adolescent offenders and therapeutic interventions with women in prison.

Through the projects and in partnership with La Trobe University, MDAS, Elizabeth Morgan House, VAHS and in collaboration with Quantum, VACCA is further developing an evidence-informed basis for localised, culturally therapeutic responses while developing Aboriginal-informed approaches, resources and models.

$22.87 million will go towards 26 projects across Victoria – four that specifically target Aboriginal people.

The pilot projects will move away from a traditional model of crisis response to focusing on providing a therapeutic response for as long as survivors of family violence need.

These new pilot projects support recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence to prioritise funding for therapeutic interventions. The Labor Government is implementing all 227 of the Royal Commission’s recommendations.

A record $1.9 billion package of measures to end family violence in Victoria was announced in the Victorian Budget 2017-18. This funding will be used to establish 17 support and safety hubs across the state, deliver after-hours crisis support, counselling and therapy for victims of family violence, and develop a 10-year industry plan.

The Labor Government also recently announced the creation of Family Safety Victoria, the state’s first ever agency solely dedicated to delivering family violence reform.

Quote attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“We are shifting the focus from a crisis response to one that allows women, children and families experiencing family violence to access therapeutic support for as long as they need it.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“We know the devastating impact family violence has on Western Melbourne – these pilot projects are an opportunity for us to keep learning about the impacts and to respond better.”

“We are also delivering services that protect and support Aboriginal families from the impacts of family violence.”