- Applications are now open to organisations able to deliver culturally appropriate domestic violence supports
- The grant is part of the McGowan Government's $1.6 million election commitment to boost culturally appropriate supports to victims of family and domestic violence
Family and domestic violence supports to Aboriginal women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are set to be improved thanks to a $1.6 million investment by the State Government.
Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk has announced a competitive grant process to identify an appropriately skilled provider or providers to deliver the services.
The money will be used to build cross cultural awareness of family and domestic violence to enable Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) victims to access support services.
The grants are focused on building capacity within the services sector and Aboriginal and CaLD communities by:
- Working with Aboriginal and CaLD communities to raise awareness and skills in responding to family and domestic violence;
- Providing cultural competency training to family and domestic violence service providers; and
- Building capacity within Aboriginal and CaLD service providers to enable them to respond to clients experiencing family and domestic violence.
The grant is part of the McGowan Government's $1.6 million election commitment to ensure culturally appropriate supports are available to victims of family and domestic violence.
The McGowan Government's election policy includes 22 commitments aimed at addressing family and domestic violence through victim safety; perpetrator accountability; prevention and early intervention; and a responsive justice system.
Applications are open until February 14, 2019 and application packs are available at https://www.dlgc.wa.gov.au/GrantsFunding/Pages/Grants%20programs.aspx
As noted by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk:
"This investment is about better equipping services to support women from diverse backgrounds, and supporting communities to recognise and respond to family and domestic violence.
"Research from a 2016 Productivity Commission report showed that Aboriginal women reported experiencing physical or threatened violence at about three times the rate of non-Aboriginal women.
"Shockingly, Aboriginal women are 34 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family and domestic violence related assaults, and more than three times more likely to be victims of sexual assault than other Australian women.
"Evidence also suggests that family and domestic violence in culturally and linguistically diverse communities is underreported.
"We have the opportunity to support awareness and understanding across communities about the nature and impact of family and domestic violence irrespective of cultural or faith backgrounds and aid help seeking."
