Milestone reached in ending family violence

(Daria Obymaha via Pexels)

The state government has implemented all 227 recommendations of the 2016 Royal Commission into Family Violence, reaching a major milestone in working to end family violence in Victoria, including in Hume and Whittlesea.

“The Royal Commission revealed the devastating prevalence and impact of family violence and set out a framework for whole-of-system reform to end family violence in Victoria,” the government said.

“Six years on from the Royal Commission, the government has invested more than $3.7 billion to prevent and respond to family violence – more than every other state and territory combined.

“Key recommendations include establishing Specialist Family Violence Courts and the rollout of the state-wide Orange Door Network, which has fundamentally changed the way the system responds to family violence. Since first opening in 2018, the Network has assisted more than 267,000 people, including more than 107,000 children.”

The government said it was building an inclusive family violence system, which includes a community-led, self-determined response to end family violence against Aboriginal people through the Dhelk Dja Agreement.

“Perpetrators are being kept in sight with expanded community-based interventions and accommodation programs – informed by a new, comprehensive view of risk through the Central Information Point,” the government said.

Prevention of Family Violence Minister Ros Spence said the government was building a Victoria that was free from violence.

“Through this work, we’re shifting the dial on attitudes and behaviors that lead to violence and strengthening the nation-leading family violence system we’ve built,” Ms Spence said.

“Victoria owes victim survivors a great debt for their generosity in sharing their stories and experiences, so that we can continue to improve the way we prevent and respond to family violence.”