The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments are investing an extra $180 million to support women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence in Victoria.
This vital funding boost, funded equally by both Governments, will help organisations deliver critical frontline family, domestic, and sexual violence services to meet local needs.
For too long, children and young people experiencing family violence that do not have a parent to support them have struggled to access the services specifically designed to help them.
That's why funding has been allocated to provide specialist support to young people, including:
- Amplify program - delivered by Melbourne City Mission, supporting young people aged 15-19 through trauma-informed case management, safety planning, peer support, and access to legal, financial and education-related assistance.
- Aspire program - delivered by Meli, helping young people aged 12-25 living in regional Victoria, including risk assessment and safety planning, help to remain engaged with education, and assistance accessing legal, financial and housing supports.
Alongside youth-focused services, system-wide initiatives across frontline support services and early-intervention initiatives will be delivered, including:
- A major boost to crisis responses and safer accommodation options, reducing reliance on motels and expanding safer, trauma informed crisis accommodation.
- A joint commitment to Aboriginal community led action through the Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum, with dedicated funding enabling the Dhelk Dja Koori Caucus to set priorities consistent with the Dhelk Dja 10-Year Agreement and Closing the Gap.
This funding boost is thanks to the renewed Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2025-30 Federation Funding Agreement that commenced on 1 July.
Across all jurisdictions, the new funding is delivering more than $700 million in new, matched investments from the Commonwealth and states and territory governments.
As stated by the Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek:
"The Albanese Labor Government is focused on delivering real change, to break cycles of violence and keep women and children safe."
"That's why we have invested over $4 billion in keeping women and their children safe."
"We know that when young people flee family violence without a protective parent, they can fall through the cracks in our system."
"Children who experience violence in their homes carry that trauma with them and without the right support, it can impact them for life."
"By investing in prevention, early intervention and crisis responses, we're supporting more Victorians to safely leave and heal with specialist services to support them."
As stated by Victorian Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Ingrid Stitt:
"Every child deserves to grow up safe and free from abuse and violence. That's why we are backing programs that keep children safe and support them to recover."
"No young person should face crisis alone. Amplify and Aspire are supporting young people in need, when they have nowhere else to go."
"This funding is an important injection into work already underway in Victoria to support young people experiencing family violence, including through The Orange Door Network and statewide case management and counselling support."
ENDS
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au.
MensLine Australia Services are available if you are concerned about your wellbeing, relationships, and behaviour on 1300 789 978 or by visiting www.mensline.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In Victoria, support also can be accessed by contacting Safe Steps on 1800 015 188 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) or going to The Orange Door website to find a service nearby.
