New Family Safety Victoria Chief Executive

Eleri Butler has been appointed as the new chief executive of Family Safety Victoria following a worldwide search.

Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams announced Ms Butler's appointment today. She will make the move to Australia from Wales next year, where she is currently chief executive of Welsh Women's Aid.

Established in 2017, Family Safety Victoria is the state's first ever dedicated agency focused on protecting women and children from family violence.

Ms Butler will work alongside stakeholders and victim survivors to build on Victoria's world-leading achievements when it comes to preventing family violence and keeping women and children safe, including:

• The establishment of the first five Orange Door locations, which have seen more than 69,000 people receive the support they need
• New information-sharing laws and a central information point so that key agencies can better share information to protect survivors and monitor perpetrators
• Better support for family violence survivors, including additional case management, flexible support packages and improved family violence refuges.

Ms Williams thanked Acting CEO Annette Lancy and Family Safety Victoria's inaugural CEO, Sue Clifford APM, for their exceptional leadership and dedication.

The Andrews Labor Government established Australia's first ever Royal Commission into Family Violence, and has invested $2.9 billion implementing each and every one of its 227 recommendations.

Ms Butler will begin her role in late March.

As stated by Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams

"We're delighted to secure Eleri Butler's services to help lead Victoria's efforts to end family violence and keep women and children safe - and to set new directions to build on our great progress."

"We've already implemented more than half of the Royal Commission's 227 recommendations, but we know that there's so much more to do. Eleri has a big job ahead of her - but we know she'll do it well."

As noted by new Family Safety Victoria Chief Executive Eleri Butler

"Victoria's significant investment into preventing violence and abuse is commendable and unprecedented, and I'm excited to have the chance to learn from and build on the considerable success already achieved."