PREVENTING family violence before it occurs will be the focus of a new anti-domestic abuse plan for the West.
Last week Women’s Health West received $600,000 in funding from the State Government to implement their proposal titled United: Working Together to Prevent Violence Against Women in the West.
Crime Prevention Minister Andrew McIntosh said the grant was part of the government’s statewide program to reduce violence against women and their children.
Women’s Health West (WHW) will roll out their violence prevention plan across three years.
Partners involved in the project include the councils of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham.
The Doutta Galla Community Health Service, HealthWest Partnership, ISIS Primary Care, Djerriwarrh Community Health Service, the Western Integrated Family Violence Committeeand Western Region Health Centre will also take part.
WHW CEO Dr Robyn Gregory said the program involved all the groups collaborating to help prevent violence occurring in families through the use of evidence-based strategies.
“The funds will greatly expand our reach and capacity to do the kind of sustained, well-resourced, work that is required to eliminate violence against women, and we commend the government for funding this vital work,” she said.
In Victoria violence against women is the leading cause of ill health and premature death in women aged 15 to 44.
WHW health promotion worker Erin Richardson said the “only way to prevent it is to improve gender equity and achieve cultural change”.
“For this type of work to be effective it must be long term, sustained, planned and funded – and that’s what funding this project enables us to do,” she said.
In August this year Star reported WHW received more than 780 family violence referrals from Wyndham police during 2011-2012.
Brimbank logged more than 680, Melton at just below 630, Hobsons Bay almost 280, Moonee Valley more than 200 and Maribyrnong just under 135 cases.
