The Andrews Labor Government is taking action to reduce family violence with a $1.6 million grants package for intervention programs to hold perpetrators to account.

Under the Family Violence Perpetrator Intervention Grants Program which opens today, profit and not-for-profit groups will be able to apply for up to $400,000 in funding to pilot new interventions for perpetrators of family violence aged over 18 years in Victoria.

The grants form part of a $7.9 million package delivered through the Victorian Budget 2017/18 to implement a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Family Violence to trial and evaluate new perpetrator interventions within the justice system.

The funding also puts into action significant reforms under the Labor Government’s 10-year plan – Ending Family Violence: Delivering Change – which highlighted the need to engage perpetrators and hold them to account to improve victim safety.

Applications for the grants are now open and close at 5pm on Wednesday, 20 December 2017, with funded programs to be completed by June 2019.

Information about the grants program can be found on the Department of Justice and Regulation website at justice.vic.gov.au/pi-grants

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula

“These grants will help to identify new ways of tackling family violence and hold perpetrators to account for their behaviour.”

“I encourage organisations to apply for these grants so we can support the vital work of perpetrator interventions programs across the state.”

Quote attributable to Acting Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Jill Hennessy

“This will help to improve the safety of victim survivors and reduce the prospect of future offending by perpetrators.”