The ACT Government’s investment is already making a real difference in the lives of Canberrans experiencing domestic and family violence. This year, the ACT Government:
- Passed new laws from 1 May 2017 to recognise a broader definition of family violence including the full range of coercive, controlling and abusive behaviours.
- Invested in more Legal Aid ACT support for victims of domestic and family violence, with an additional 100 Canberrans supported in the first three quarters of 2016‑17 compared to the same period the year before. ($313,000)
- Invested in the Domestic Violence Crisis Service to enhance its 24/7 telephone and outreach support service providing information, counselling, advocacy and practical safety to the community ($200,000).
- Delivered greater support to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre to meet increased demand from victims of sexual assault in the ACT ($100,000).
- Supported Canberrans from non-English speaking backgrounds experiencing family violence by providing increased access to translating and interpreting services through the ACT courts and eligible service providers ($39,000).
- Assisted Canberrans to apply for and obtain a Family Violence Order by funding two new Family Violence Order Liaison Officers at ACT Policing ($281,000).
- Established a new therapeutic residential behaviour change program for perpetrators, Room4Change, that also supports women and children to stay safely in their home ($228,000 in program funds and $1.8 million reallocated from specialist homelessness services).
- Established the Case Analysis Team within Child and Youth Protection Services to undertake case analysis and provide independent advice on individual cases at key decision making points. Additionally this advice will inform training priorities and development of new policies and procedures ($863,000).
Read more about Safer Families reforms here.