Stopping Family Violence Before It Starts In The East

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting community programs that are working to prevent family violence in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins announced funding of over $500,000 to five programs.

Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place works with Aboriginal men that are community role models. This new funding will engage these men as ambassadors of family violence prevention.

A yarning circle for Aboriginal women will also be created as a space for women to discuss family violence in their communities.

Funding provided to Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) will enable the continuation of work on a program to prevent elder abuse, including through the development of awareness raising tools for organisations.

Women’s Health East will be working to build evidence and raise awareness of family violence in the LGBTI community, with a focus on promoting healthy and equal relationships.

Girl Geek Academy will also work with Women’s Health East to prevent violence against women by correcting the imbalance of women in the tech industry.

Girl Geek Academy will use the funding to deliver workshops to girls aged 5-8 in Melbourne’s east. Topics covered will range from basic coding to gender equality in the online world.

In Touch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence is being funded to prevent family violence in culturally diverse communities in Dandenong and surrounding areas. Prevention work will focus on promoting gender equality with faith-based organisations.

Support for these unique programs is part of a strategy to trial new approaches in the prevention of family violence and violence against women. A focus on innovative and effective programs are a priority of Free from violence: Victoria’s strategy to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women.

For more information on Victoria’s strategy to stop family violence before it starts, visit vic.gov.au/familyviolence/prevention-strategy

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Women Natalie Hutchins

“Ending family violence requires a whole of community approach. By investing in prevention programs in Melbourne’s East we will help stop family violence before it starts.”

“By trialling a range of new programs to prevent family violence we will gain a better understanding of what works in ending family violence for good.”