By ALESHA CAPONE
THE CEO of Womens Health West has welcomed a new State Government plan to tackle family violence.
Last week Premier Ted Baillieu launched the $7.9 million plan to address domestic violence against women and children.
Mr Baillieu said the proposal would raise community awareness to change attitudes and behaviours which have allowed such violence to occur.
This will include educating school children and workplaces including the development of a ‘Bystander Program’ to equip people with knowledge about what to do when someone else is experiencing violence.
Other new initiatives to be adopted will focus on males at risk of being violent – including a pilot program which intervenes to address the behaviour of adolescents who use violence at home.
The Womens Health West CEO, Dr Roby Gregory, said the government’s plan placed equal weight on preventing violence, holding perpetrators to account and supporting women and children who experience violence.
Womens Health West provides family violence victims with as court support, crisis housing and case management and counselling.
“The whole-of-government commitment outlined in the plan, coupled with shared community responsibility, is essential for achieving the vision for women and children to live free from violence in Victoria,” Dr Gregory said.
“Violence against women is unacceptably prevalent in our community. In Victoria violence against women is the biggest contributor to ill health and premature death in women aged 15–44.
“We welcome funds allocated to prevention, intervention and response activities to date and note the government’s commitment to this plan as the foundation for a long-term vision.
“We look forward to implementing this plan and integrating it with existing national and regional plans such as Preventing Violence Together: Western Region Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women.”
