The Andrews Labor Government is taking action to reduce family violence and hold perpetrators to account, with a Warrnambool service provider receiving a major grant to deliver specialist services in the region.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced that the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative received a $167,000 grant under the Family Violence Perpetrator Intervention Grants Program.
The Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative will receive $167,000 for a specialist case management program for Aboriginal men. Based in Warrnambool, the program focuses on men’s cultural healing and works collaboratively with participants and local Aboriginal agencies from across the region.
The Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative is one of five specialist service providers located across the state to receive funding under the government’s Family Violence Perpetrator Intervention Grants Program.
The service providers will share in a total $1.75 million grants package to provide a range of programs across Victoria.
The grants form part of a $7.9 million package delivered through the Victorian Budget 2017/18 to implement a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Family Violence to trial and evaluate new perpetrator interventions within the justice system.
The Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative program will begin in May and operate for 15 months before being independently evaluated.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
“We know the devastating impact of family violence. It hurts our whole community – police, courts, workplaces, schools, and sadly, our homes and our children.”
“We’re tackling family violence by holding perpetrators to account and ensuring that they can access programs to help change their behaviour.”
“These programs aim to address family violence in the Barwon South West region and provide specialist and targeted programs for perpetrators.”
