- $96.4 million Cook Government investment to fund further supports for victim-survivors
- Funding informed by advice from the Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce which has now concluded
- 2024-25 Budget investment brings total State Government investment in FDV supports to $422 million since 2021-22
The Cook Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its strong commitment to preventing family and domestic violence in Western Australia, with $96.4 million invested in the 2024-25 State Budget to prioritise the safety of victim-survivors.
The Budget package extends the State Government's record investment in prevention of family and domestic violence initiatives to $422 million in this term of Government, which includes a huge $72.6 million boost announced during last year's 16 Days In WA campaign.
Today's funding announcement is informed by the work of the historic Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce. Formed in September last year, the taskforce was established to help guide the next phase of the State's commitment to addressing FDV.
Now concluded, the taskforce developed a System Reform Plan which provides a blueprint for victim-survivor-focused supports that prioritise safety, wellbeing and recovery.
The Plan was developed through extensive consultation across Government, the community services sector, Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations, and people with lived experience.
The 2024-25 State Budget features funding for new and expanded services and supports, and a number of key system reform initiatives, including:
- $53.8 million for Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams, including:
- to expand operation to seven days per week (including public holidays);
- to continue operations of expanded Coordinated Response Services which work in partnership with police and child protection officers in the FDV Response Teams; and
- the staged rollout of 17 additional Community Corrections Officers by 2027-28 to enhance FDV Response Team operations;
- $14.2 million for a new Family and Domestic Violence One Stop Hub in the Perth metropolitan area, to be at the new RUAH Centre for Women and Children;
- $6.2 million to establish a dedicated organisation that will support and develop family and domestic violence informed workforces;
- $4 million to expand two rapid rehousing programs and deliver emergency accommodation for victim-survivors in Leonara, Goldfields;
- $4.5 million funding uplift for the men's behaviour change program 'Breathing Space' in Maylands and Calista;
- $3.2million for the Department of Justice to provide victim representation and support at Prisoners Review Board meetings;
- $3.1 million to boost capacity of existing family and domestic violence community-based counselling and advocacy services;
- $1.9 million to establish a lived experience advisory group to inform policy and service design in FDV;
- $1.6 million to commence work on a Central Information Point to inform family and domestic violence risk assessment;
- $490,000 for a two-year pilot of community-based, short-stay, interventions for mothers and babies who are at risk of, or are victim-survivors of family and domestic violence; and
- $396,000 for the Department of Justice to undertake consultation on a new family and domestic violence disclosure scheme for victimsurvivors.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Today's announcement of $96.4million is a testament to my Government's commitment to prevent family and domestic violence in Western Australia.
"I would like to thank the Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce and its Chairs Professor Colleen Hayward and Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet Emily Roper for their tireless work and development of the System Reform Plan.
"This collaboration between Government and the community sector has provided a strong framework for investment in this critical area.
"Everyone deserves the right to feel safe in their home."
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton:
"Family and domestic violence is occurring in homes throughout Australia every day. All violence, in whatever form it comes, is completely unacceptable.
"The Cook Government is committed to taking action to stop family and domestic violence and continues to make record investment in supporting victim-survivors.
"The Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce has developed a clear systems reform plan to improve the way agencies and organisations work together to respond to family and domestic violence.
"Through this shared approach, we will have the best opportunity to make the biggest difference to the safety and wellbeing of victim-survivors and hold perpetrators to account.
"We all have a role to play in preventing family and domestic violence, and the Cook Government will continue to do its best to address this serious issue."
