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No-one left in harm's way: Join the campaign for full funding of family violence services

Right now, Australia is in the midst of a family violence crisis. Women are being abused and murdered by their partners in shocking numbers, and governments are still leaving thousands of women without access to the service support they need to live free from danger. 

To address this crisis we need to ensure anyone reaching out for help can get it, and make sure governments are investing in the men's behaviour change and primary prevention programs we need to stop more violence in the future.

To secure the funding needed, we'll have to show the federal government just how many voters are prepared to hold them accountable on this issue. Can you add your voice to the call for action and help make the community's call for full funding of family violence services so loud the government can't ignore it? 

*If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, you can call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for 24/7 support. If you are in immediate danger call 000.

More information

Here is a snapshot of the federal funding experts say is required to help tackle this epidemic: 

  • Specialist domestic and family violence services (including women's refuges) - urgently need adequate funding to ensure 24-hour accessible front line, integrated support for women and children in crisis. That includes an immediate injection of funds to deal with the 2,800 women trying to escape family violence who have to be turned away from homelessness services every year because those services aren't resourced to assist them.
  • Legal assistance services provide critical support for women needing to understand the courts process, if they'll be able to keep their children safe, and where they stand if there has been financial abuse. But:
    • Community Legal Centres - where family violence makes up a third of the work, have to turn away more than 150,000 people annually because they're not adequately resourced.
    • Family Violence Prevention Legal Services - which provide a critical culturally safe support service for Aboriginal women and children also don't have the funding they need to meet demand for their service, despite the fact that Aboriginal women are 34 times more likely to be hospitalised as the result of a  family violence assault than other Australian women. They're calling for an additional $28 million annually to expand their service. 
      The Productivity Commission has said the legal assistance sector as a whole needs an immediate injection of $120 million of funding from the federal government annually. 
  • Men's behaviour change programs need an additional $58 million to expand their services, develop a national accreditation system, and provide earlier intervention with domestic violence perpetrators.
  • Primary prevention programs - critical to addressing the underlying drivers of violence and preventing violence in the future - need an additional $24 million in 2016/17 to kick-start immediate early childhood interventions, respectful relationships and community education programs. 

Domestic violence is a national emergency. It cannot be solved without a serious national conversation and full government funding and support for all services that prevent, and provide protection from, domestic violence.

We call on all Australian governments - federal, state and territory - to make good on their commitments to address our domestic violence epidemic by committing all funds needed to fully support programs which prevent domestic violence and provide protection and support for those affected. Including: legal services, crisis support and refuges, outreach services, men's behaviour change programs, emergency accommodation and long-term housing, counselling services and homelessness services.

Signed,

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Latest activity

Kim , 02026  /  signed 2017-05-27 08:16:49 +1000
"This has to work!"
Daniel , 3032  /  signed 2017-05-26 22:45:24 +1000
Tony , 23389  /  signed 2017-05-25 22:00:24 +1000
Giulia , 3073  /  signed 2017-05-25 21:06:58 +1000
"Giulia Bastoni"
David , 3185  /  signed 2016-11-23 17:34:34 +1100
"I employ a young woman who in crisis needed to escape from family violence, and saw how much more support she needed than was available at the time"
Simin , 3198  /  signed 2016-11-20 07:46:09 +1100
Joanne , 3806  /  signed 2016-01-20 15:22:14 +1100
"Survivor of child abuse.Must stop now our children are too precious to be scarred for life by family violence! More help is needed for Men to access free help for Anger Management programs for the Men wanting to get help to change their behavior because the average family can’t afford these programs. I think Males who aren’t violent need to speak out also to let these men who are violent know it’s not ok to treat women and children this way."
Lisa , 4209  /  signed 2015-12-02 01:35:16 +1100
"I am a victim of domestic violence"
Amanda , 3810  /  signed 2015-11-29 21:26:54 +1100
Faye , 5540  /  signed 2015-11-29 17:07:34 +1100
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