By LAURA WAKELY
WOMENS Health West has welcomed the State Government’s announcement of a $16 million package to fight violence against women and children.
Delivered over four years, the funding will see an extra $9.25 million for counselling and case management, $3.75 million for sexual assault counselling and $3 million for men’s behaviour change programs.
As reported by Star earlier this year, community service organisations have been calling on the Government to increase funding to support the growing numbers of women and children presenting with family violence issues.
Recent Victoria Police statistics reveal there were 5898 reported incidents of family violence in Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham between 2011 and 2012.
This number has grown by 72 per cent since 2008.
Meanwhile, WHW had a 50 per cent increase in women reporting to them with domestic violence issues in the 2010-2011 financial year.
WHW CEO Robyn Gregory praised the Government for listening to community services and police and taking action to recognise the “real crisis”.
Details of which organisations will receive the funding have not yet been released, but Dr Gregory said any increase in funding was “very welcome”.
“What the government needs to do is listen to those services who are in direct contact with the women and children experiencing family violence,” Dr Gregory said.
“And they have listened.
“When (women experiencing domestic violence) do step forward, when they do speak out and say we no longer have to put up with violence in the home, that that will be taken very seriously.
“There will be services to support them and their right to live a life without violence.”
Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins, who has been lobbying for an increase to family violence funding in the West, also welcomed the package.
But she wasn’t convinced it would be enough and said organisations like WHW and Djerriwarrh Health could “easily do” with an additional $1 million each just to meet current demands.
