The 11th annual Walk Against Family Violence has taken place in Melbourne, with a raft of Victorians taking a collective stand against family violence.
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville praised representatives from Domestic Violence Victoria and Respect Victoria, as well as Victoria Police, the MFB, SES and Ambulance Victoria, who played a key role leading the walk.
“This walk allows us to reflect on the incredible work everyone in the sector does to keep women and children safe from the scourge of family violence.” Minister Williams said.
The Walk kickstarts the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The campaign will see events all over Victoria, and the Respect Women: Call it Out advertising campaign will hit screens again to encourage Victorians to call sexual harassment out when they see it.
The walk was organised by safe steps and provided an opportunity for men to join women and children in solidarity, while acknowledging the important work of police and emergency services in tackling family violence in Victoria.
The Police and Emergency Services Minister, Lisa Neville said, “The Walk Against Family Violence is an opportunity to take a stand against family violence in our community and acknowledge the incredible work our police and emergency services do tackling this issue”
Police and emergency service vehicles led the walk and were decked out in orange as ambassador vehicles, in solidarity with the campaign to end family violence.
Victoria Police respond to a family violence incident every seven minutes on average – making it the number one law and order issue.
The current Labor Government is implementing reforms for keeping women and children safe include support and safety hubs, perpetrator programs, new laws, specialist courts and relationships education in schools. They have committed to implementing every recommendation of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
This has been supported by record funding of more than $3 billion for police, with 3,135 new frontline police, new police resources and stronger police powers and laws. This investment includes 415 family violence specialists.
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Gabrielle Williams has also announced $6 million to improve the hands-on training for university students about to begin a career keeping women and children safe from family violence.
The government will invest $3.1 million to pave the way for up to 1,000 additional student placements in family violence and community organisations, on top of the 1,400 placements already funded. Minister Williams reiterated, “Our plan and investments will mean a bigger, stronger and more diverse workforce – and that means women and children will be able to get the help they need, when they need it most.”
A further $1.5 million will go towards a new and tailored Fast Track Professional Development Program for 150 early and mid-career specialist family violence professionals to grow their careers and gain the skills they need to become managers and leaders.
A Family Violence Practice Social Work Graduate Program is to be established, while a further $1.5 million will be provided for TAFEs and other Registered Training Organisations to equip family violence professionals with the skills they need to provide the very best care.
Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney said, “Family violence impacts on all areas of a woman’s life, so our reforms touch on all areas of government. This investment will ensure TAFEs are equipped to support and identify those at risks of family violence.”
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global initiative running from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) through 10 December (Human Rights Day), annually. The Victorian campaign, Respect Women: ‘Call It Out’ asks Victorians to call out the drivers of family violence and violence against women. Respect Victoria CEO Tracey Gaudry explains, “If we can change the conversation, we can change the culture that allows family violence and violence against women to happen in the first place.
For more information head to:
www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au
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