FAMILY violence victims in Melton and Bacchus Marsh will receive extra legal help after a funding boost from Victoria Legal Aid was announced last week.
The $40,000 promised by the VLA will enable the Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre to ensure people involved in a family violence matter in Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court have access to advice and representation.
The news comes in the wake of Victoria Police’s recent crime statistics which revealed family violence continued to be a significant problem in the municipality with a 20 per cent spike in the number of assaults recorded from January 2012 to December 2012. The Melton Police launched a unit dedicated to target the problem late last year.
VLA Director Civil Justice Access and Equity Kristen Hilton said the funding responded to the needs of the Melton community – the second-fastest growing local government area in Australia.
“We know there is a pressing demand for help with family violence problems in this region. There has been a dramatic rise in the past year, and family violence reports were made at six times the Victorian average per head of population,” Ms Hilton said.
Ms Hilton said the funding meant that legal help, presently provided at Melton three days a week, would be available five days a week.
Chief Executive Officer of Community West and the BMCLC Rachna Muddagouni said the centre welcomed the extra support the funding would provide.
“Because we have strong connections to other organisations such as counselling services, emergency housing, and services that help newly arrived communities, this funding will enable us to respond effectively to the high unmet need in our rapidly growing region.”
