A new initiative being rolled out in Aboriginal Child and Family Centres in NSW aims to improve outcomes for Aboriginal families and communities experiencing domestic and family violence.
Two Aboriginal Family Wellbeing and Violence Prevention (AFWVP) workers are now based at the Brewarrina Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, with other locations including Lightning Ridge, Gunnedah and Tamworth.
Under the program, specialist Aboriginal identified male and female domestic and family violence workers provide culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal families experiencing violence.
This Aboriginal-led work to bring domestic and family violence specialists into Aboriginal Child and Family Centres is the first of its kind in NSW.
Aboriginal Child and Family Centres are recognised as safe places for Aboriginal people.
New workers will link families experiencing violence to local support services.
The program is being funded through the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence National Partnership Agreement 2023-25 (NPA).
Funding under the 2023-25 NPA is being put towards projects that help to achieve Target 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap: to cut the rate of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children by 50 per cent by 2031.
This investment will deliver vital, culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal women, children and families.
The Commonwealth funding under the NPA complements the NSW Government's $245.6 million domestic violence package in the 2024/25 Budget.
Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said:
"No woman or child should live in fear from violence.
"It is vital that we have culturally safe programs in place to respond to the needs of First Nations families and communities.
"This initiative is designed to remove a barrier to First Nations people coming forward to seek help by providing support that is respectful, safe and responsive to needs.
"It's only by involving First Nations people in care that we will see better outcomes."
NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
"The NSW Government is working with communities to address the scourge of domestic and family violence.
"The number of Aboriginal families experiencing domestic and family violence is tragic and unacceptable.
"Delivering culturally appropriate Aboriginal-led responses to domestic and family violence is essential to building safer communities.
"We are committed to developing co-designed initiatives and approaches that support self-determination, healing and recovery."
NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
"Aboriginal Child and Family Centres are trusted organisations within Aboriginal communities and are recognised as safe spaces.
"This is why they are perfectly positioned to link Aboriginal families with culturally safe services to help prevent and respond to domestic and family violence.
"We know there are better outcomes when Aboriginal organisations design, lead and implement Closing the Gap initiatives, which this program is a wonderful example of."
Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler MP said:
"In Brewarrina and Lightning Ridge, a lot of my constituents are Aboriginal, so we must have culturally appropriate and specialist services for that population led by Aboriginal people.
"This initiative from the Commonwealth and NSW governments will benefit these communities and hopefully improve outcomes by providing the right support for Aboriginal families. It is a good start to breaking down the barriers for First Nations people to seek help if they are experiencing domestic violence."
Labor spokesperson for Barwon Stephen Lawrence said:
"Targeted investment in areas of identified community need is a core tenet of Labor governments.
Having worked extensively in communities in regional, rural and remote NSW, I know that this funding will make a real difference in the lives of many people to help reduce the incidence of trauma."
Brewarrina Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Manager Danielle Boney said:
"The Brewarrina Aboriginal Child and Family Centre plays a central role to bringing our community together.
"We have provided culturally appropriate services to the community for years and we welcome the addition of new workers to help keep local families safe and strong."
