- $6 million grants scheme aims to prevent family and domestic violence against women and children
- Funding for eligible organisations available through the Primary Prevention Grants Program
- Initiative forms part of a $72.6 million package to strengthen the State's family and domestic violence responses announced in November 2023
Grant funding of $6 million is being made available for community-led initiatives to prevent family and domestic violence throughout Western Australia.
The Cook Government's Family and Domestic Violence Primary Prevention Grants initiative will provide funding to eligible organisations over two years to deliver programs that target the drivers of family and domestic violence, to enable long lasting social and structural change.
This can include primary prevention initiatives tailored for specific cohorts within the community, including Aboriginal communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability and the LGBTIQA+ community.
The initiative forms part of the Cook Government's $72.6 million package to strengthen the State's family and domestic violence responses announced in November 2023.
It builds on the success of the previous Primary Prevention Grants Program, in which $3 million was allocated to 17 WA organisations in 2022.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and registered Aboriginal businesses are strongly encouraged to submit for the funding, to support prevention work for Aboriginal families and communities that is culturally safe and grounded in healing approaches.
Organisations can apply for funding under the Family and Domestic Violence Primary Prevention Grants Program via Tenders WA website under Family and Domestic Violence Primary Prevention Grants Program 2024/2026. The grants will open on 25 March 2024 and will remain open for six weeks.
A second grants initiative, the Aboriginal Family Safety Grants Program for eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations or registered Aboriginal businesses, is expected to open in May this year.
This initiative will support implementation of the Aboriginal Family Safety Strategy 2022-2032 by enabling Aboriginal designed and led actions and solutions that will promote family safety.
The grant programs align with the Cook Government's long-term plan for a WA where all people live free from violence - Path to Safety: Western Australia's Strategy to Reduce Family and Domestic Violence 2020-2030.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton:
"Addressing the underlying causes and attitudes of sexism, inequality and gender stereotypes that drive family and domestic violence is crucial to help prevent this behaviour before it starts.
"This funding will spread the message at a community level that if we all work together, we can make a difference.
"While investment in crisis responses and early intervention remain critically important, they cannot exist in isolation. We can all do our bit to call out unacceptable behaviour and stop the violence before it starts."
