The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build a safer New South Wales by implementing Pathways to Prevention - the state's first dedicated domestic family and sexual violence primary prevention strategy.
As part of this $38.3 million program, more than $1 million will be invested in Local Government NSW to support councils and communities across the state in preventing domestic and family violence.
This partnership builds on the recent launch of the Multi-Sport Coalition for primary prevention, bringing together professional sports clubs, state sporting organisations, industry stakeholders and the government to use their influence to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence and progress gender equality through sport.
The Government is taking a whole-of-community approach to primary prevention, to help change attitudes that condone violence against women and children.
Local councils are key connectors in their community, often working with local organisations and linking into domestic and family violence support services, so they present a unique opportunity to lead a coordinated best practice approach to primary prevention of gendered violence.
The funding allows Local Government NSW to:
- employ a Domestic and Family Violence Primary Prevention Officer who will coordinate primary prevention activities with local councils, communities and non-government organisations to improve community awareness and understanding
- develop a guide to help councils deliver localised primary prevention initiatives including action planning templates and prioritisation tools
- provide unconscious bias training, gender equality initiatives, and resources to boost awareness and understanding of primary prevention across all local councils in NSW.
This work forms part of a wider NSW Government effort to stop the violence before it starts.
The implementation of the $38.3 million Primary Prevention Strategy goes hand-in-hand with the Minns Labor Government's ongoing work to eliminate of domestic, family and sexual violence through early intervention, crisis response and recovery. This includes:
- $48 million to expand the Staying Home Leaving Violence Program statewide, and the Integrated Domestic Family and Violence Service
- legislative reforms to make it harder than ever for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail
- introducing electronic monitoring for alleged serious domestic violence offenders
- strengthening laws to protect against repeated breaches of apprehended domestic violence orders.
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:
"Eliminating domestic and family violence is a complex challenge that requires the whole of government and the whole of community to work together to achieve this goal.
"As the closest level of government to communities, councils can play an important role in preventing gendered violence and help build a society that promotes gender equality, healthy relationships and is free from violence."
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
"We know that domestic, family and sexual violence is preventable - and primary prevention is about stopping it before it starts.
"We want to work with local communities on the ground to change the underlying beliefs and cultures across our society that have tolerated - and even condoned - violence against women and children.
"We can't do this alone. We need councils - and the communities they represent - to help.
"Our investment in primary prevention complements our ongoing work to support victim-survivors of domestic and family violence and ensure perpetrators are held to account."
NSW Women's Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said:
"Local councils are in a unique position to increase awareness and understanding of domestic, family and sexual violence and drive lasting change in their communities.
"By harnessing local knowledge and networks, primary prevention initiatives can play a critical role in fostering attitudes and behaviours that result in safer communities.
"I'm pleased to see that local primary prevention initiatives will be supported through the partnership announced with Local Government NSW."
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said:
"Local governments play a key role in advocating for the prevention of domestic violence.
"A collaborative approach is needed to address domestic and family violence, and that must involve working directly with the community.
"This partnership will support us to continue our existing work with local community groups and organisations to provide frontline care and ongoing prevention."
Support:
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.
If you are worried about your own behaviour and use of violence, contact the Men's Referral Service online or by phone on 1300 766 491.
