The Andrews Labor Government is making Werribee safer by expanding programs to work toward reducing the impact of family violence in our communities.

Member for Werribee, Tim Pallas announced $359,875 for family violence programs and referral services across the Western Melbourne region. These programs will encourage men to acknowledge the impact of their violence and change their behaviour through group-based intervention.

The investment will support local agencies to deliver men’s behavioural change programs and services across the state.

It will also support the No to Violence and Men’s Referral Services to provide information and guidance on men’s family violence to perpetrators, frontline staff and the community.

The funding supports a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Family Violence that more men’s behavioural change programs be made available to meet the demands of the community and of court orders.

The Labor Government is working to end family violence through its $1.9 billion package of measures in the Victorian Budget 2017/18.

This record investment includes $49.4 million over four years for the Changing Perpetrator Behaviour initiative.

The Government will provide further funding for this initiative following the completion of a co-design process with relevant agencies.

Funding will also go to establishing 17 support and safety hubs across the state, delivering after-hours crisis support, counselling and therapy for victims of family violence, and developing a 10-year plan.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“We are breaking the cycle of family violence by making men accountable for their actions and helping them to address their behaviours.”

“We know the devastating impact that men who commit family violence can have on their own families, as well as the wider community – this is about stamping out this behaviour.”