The $260 million National Partnership on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence has been rolled out, with Queensland receiving their first payment of over $13 million to help address increased demand for frontline services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said the Federal Coalition Government was absolutely committed to working collaboratively and cooperatively with our state and territory counterparts to ensure women and children have access to support they need to live free of violence.
“We are providing $65 million in support to states and territories through the first payment under the National Partnership Agreement giving each jurisdiction flexibility to determine where the money is needed most,” Minister Ruston said.
“It is being used to bolster frontline worker numbers, expand crisis accommodation, sexual violence support, counselling and crisis case management, legal support, perpetrator interventions and men’s behaviour change programs.
“Funding is also being directed to help women and children who may have additional barriers to accessing support such as migrants, people with disability, LGBTIQA+ communities and women and children living in rural and remote communities.”
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said this National Partnership builds on the $130 million the Federal Coalition Government provided to states and territories in 2020 which supported more than 450 family and domestic violence frontline organisations and delivered more than 545 activities and services.
“Under the $130 million National Partnership the Queensland Government received over $25 million which supported 130 frontline family domestic and sexual violence services,” Ms Landry said.
“The additional funding helped services in Queensland to assist women on temporary visas with crisis accommodation.
“Among the projects funded there was also a focus on offering services to give women the skills and confidence to leave a violent relationship and live independently such as financial counselling programs and support navigating the legal and courts system which can often be daunting or too expensive.
“This additional support for frontline services also works alongside our Escaping Violence Payment which provides women and children leaving a violence relationship up to $5000 to establish a safe home regardless of their income or assets.”
The National Partnership Agreement is being funded under the Federal Coalition Government’s record $1.1 billion investment into women’s safety and coincides with the next National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022 to 2032.
Most state and territories will have received their first payment under the agreement by today.
