The state government is investing more than $240 million in the 2022/23 budget to end family violence and build a better future for Victorian women, including those in Hume and Whittlesea.
The Government will expand critical refuge and crisis accommodation for victim survivors who cannot remain safely at home, with a $69.1 million boost for two refuges, six new crisis accommodation properties and support for three organisations to better support crisis accommodation options.
More than $43 million will help Victoria’s family violence services provide critical support for families affected by family violence – including crisis assistance, specialised therapeutic support for children and young people, funding for Victoria’s 24/7 crisis service, and support for women on temporary visas.
A further $33.4 million will go towards supporting sexual assault victims with specialist sexual assault services, an expanded sexual assault crisis line, and interventions for children and young people displaying sexually harmful behaviours.
Funding of $18.9 million over three years will support Victoria’s flagship prevention agency, Respect Victoria, dedicated to stopping violence before it starts – alongside funding for new community-based consent education to prevent sexual violence.
A boost of $19.4 million will support Victoria’s women’s health services to continue their vital work in promoting the health and wellbeing of women and preventing family and gendered violence.
In total, this budget invests around $940 million in initiatives primarily focused on improving outcomes for women.
Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams said: “We know that inequality for women drives violence against women – that’s why our law reform and investments target both.”
“From crisis accommodation to consent education, we’ll keep investing in the services we need to keep women and children safe and the Victorians we need to deliver them.”
