Helena Abdou
The state government is calling for at least 10 days’ paid family violence leave to be implemented in the private sector.
This would allow ongoing employees, including those in Hume and Whittlesea, to support women’s safety and financial security as part of the Fair Work Commission’s family and domestic violence leave review.
An average of 0.3 per cent of the state’s public sector employees across three of the largest departments accessed paid family violence leave in the past year.
Since 2015, family violence leave has been included in all victorian public sector enterprises, meaning public sector employees such as nurses and teachers have access to 20 days of paid family violence leave, or unpaid family violence leave for casual employees.
Prevention for family violence minister Gabrielle Williams said the initiative was all about providing support to victims of family violence.
“Paid family violence leave sends an important message that victim survivors are not to blame, and they have the
support of their employer to recover safely,” Ms Williams said.
“We know that family violence has significant and far-reaching consequences – paid family violence leave means
victim survivors can maintain stability and support at work, in what can be a time of great turmoil and trauma.”
Family violence leave in the Victorian public service can be accessed through a manager, human resources, union representative, or a trained family violence contact in the workplace.
