The Minns Labor Government is continuing to build a safer New South Wales for women and children by expanding critical support services to regional and rural families escaping domestic and family violence.
As part of the 2024/25 $230 million domestic violence emergency package, the NSW Government has invested $13.7 million over four years to expand the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS) to six new locations.
Four of the six new services are Aboriginal-led organisations, all located in areas where there are large Aboriginal communities and a high need for integrated domestic and family violence services for whole families.
They include:
- Wandiyali in Hunter covering Maitland and Cessnock LGAs
- Rekindling the Spirit in Northern covering Richmond Valley, Lismore, Kyogle LGAs
- Maaruma-Li in Western covering Warrumbungle LGA
- Mirrimpilyi Muurpa-nara in Far West covering Broken Hill and Central Darling LGAs
The focus on the family and children in the IDFVS program, as well as a holistic approach, has been found to be more effective and culturally responsive for Aboriginal communities.
In the 2024-25 financial year, IDFVS supported more than 1,700 people, including more than 300 children, in high-risk groups and communities, who experienced violence and abuse in their homes. They include victim-survivors from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those with disabilities or affected by social exclusion or disadvantage.
This is part of a wider effort by the Minns Labor Government to address domestic and family violence from all angles, including boosting crisis response, strengthening bail laws, and focusing on earlier intervention and primary prevention.
There are currently 11 existing IDFVS providers across 14 LGAs in New South Wales, taking the total to 17 services across 22 LGAs after the expansion.
There were no Aboriginal service providers delivering IDFVS before the expansion.
The other providers in the expansion are Pathfinders in New England and Mission Australia in Murrumbidgee. Generalist IDFVS service providers continue to provide priority access to Aboriginal families and victim-survivors and ensure culturally-informed support is available in other areas.
More information about IDFVS is available here https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/service-providers/supporting-family-domestic-sexual-violence-services/dfv-programs-funding/integrated-domestic-and-family-violence-services-program.html
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
"We know that Aboriginal communities experience domestic and family violence at much higher rates than other communities and so this expansion of the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service to regional areas with large numbers of Aboriginal people is another vital step in helping to keep more mob women and children safe.
"All the evidence tells us that when Aboriginal community organisations drive change in partnership with Government, better outcomes are achieved, and we're fully committed to that.
"We are continuing to turn our Closing the Gap commitments for shared decision making into action, by working with Aboriginal organisations to lead the way in keeping families safe and this program is an excellent example of that."
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Jodie Harrison said:
"The NSW Government is continuing to deliver ongoing, holistic domestic and family violence services for victim-survivors across the state - no matter their postcode.
"Our investment into Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to run Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service means Aboriginal victim-survivors and their families have culturally appropriate supports to help them recover from abuse.
"We're working with ACCOs to build their capacity and capability because we know we get that better outcomes for Aboriginal victim-survivors when services are delivered by Aboriginal-led organisations.
"We're working hard to make sure all women and children can live in a community that is free from violence."
CEO of Rekindling the Spirit Georgina Cohen said:
"On behalf of Rekindling the Spirit and the local communities of the Bundjalung Nation here in the Northern Rivers we would like to say thanks to the NSW State Government and DCJ for their confidence in awarding Rekindling the Spirit the IDVFS funding within our region.
"Rekindling is invested in making a difference within our communities and with the individuals and families that work live and breathe on our country. We are also invested through our cultural lens to ensure safety, for our children, our women and our men within our community and see this as a high priority within our service from a wholistic cultural practice, healing of health and well-being with a clear focus of creating safety across these levels.
"Rekindling the Sprit has worked for many years around change and change behaviour adapting modern day contemporary practices with embedded cultural practice of responsibility, what that is and means for our men and women within our communities, again creating safe places where our men, women and children can thrive and not just survive through the reconnecting of family's roles and responsibilities culturally and empowering sustainable and realistic change."
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.
