- Contract awarded for new Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) Workforce Entity to strengthen frontline responses to FDV
- $6 million over three years to establish the entity to improve workers' knowledge, skills, and capabilities to support victim-survivors and respond to perpetrators
- Cook Government committed to building safe and inclusive communities
The Cook Government has awarded a contract to deliver a new Family and Domestic Violence Workforce Entity, boosting training and professional development to strengthen Western Australia's frontline response to family and domestic violence (FDV).
The Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing will deliver the entity in partnership with Stopping Family Violence, Council of Aboriginal Services WA, Aboriginal Health Council of WA, Community Skills WA, Professor Donna Chung, and WorkUP.
The State Government has committed $6 million over three years to support its establishment and operation, to enhance workforce development across government, community sector, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, giving workers the skills and knowledge to deliver safety-focused and culturally appropriate responses to victim-survivors and perpetrators.
The workforce entity will be responsible for planning and delivering workforce development initiatives, facilitating high-quality training, and supporting implementation of key system reform actions.
To support the new entity, a Workforce Capability Framework has been developed to guide people, organisations, and agencies across all sectors to understand their roles in responding to family and domestic violence. The framework ensures the workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge to deliver a safety-focused, informed, and culturally appropriate response to victim-survivors and people using violence.
The need for a dedicated family and domestic violence workforce entity was identified in the Strengthening Responses to Family and Domestic Violence: System Reform Plan 2024 to 2029.
The Workforce Capability Framework can be read here: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/workforce-capability-framework
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"Supporting organisations and workers to have the right knowledge, skills, and training is crucial to the Cook Government's commitment to ending family and domestic violence in our community.
"Since 2017, an unprecedented $707.6 million in new investment has gone towards addressing FDV, because keeping women and children safe must always be a priority in our work to build safe, inclusive communities.
"This workforce entity will play a critical role in lifting frontline capability by supporting training, qualifications, system reform delivery, and collaboration across the sector ensuring services are strong, consistent and effective.
"Together, the Workforce Capability Framework and the Family and Domestic Violence Workforce Entity will function in partnership to strengthen capability to respond to family and domestic violence."
