An innovative new project to improve responses to families in Dubbo and Wellington has been funded under the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence National Partnership Agreement 2023-25 (NPA).
The Family Safety Collaboration is a grassroots program that works to strengthen relationships between child protection and domestic and family violence providers and other local agencies.
The project aims to drive positive change in the community, by delivering more coordinated services.
Agencies involved in the collaboration include local government, local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Non-Government Organisations, domestic and family violence service providers and child protection and family support services.
The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) received over $817,000 in funding to lead the project after extensive consultation with the community which included listening to people with lived experience of family and domestic violence.
The project will also support sector development and help to improve responses to families where there are domestic and family violence and child protection concerns.
The NSW Government is receiving a total of $180 million in Commonwealth funding under the 2021-2027 NPA to support domestic, family and sexual violence initiatives. Projects funded by the NPA include those that prevent domestic and family violence, support victim-survivors, enable systems to be more effective and responsive and trial novel approaches and interventions.
Specific initiatives to meet Target 13 of Closing the Gap were also provided funding to reduce the rate of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children by 50 per cent by 2031.
Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said:
“Violence against women is a national shame.
“Community-led projects that bring together expertise is how we will create change, embrace new ways of working and improve co-ordination between services.
“We need to listen and learn from the different experiences of people working in this field. Ending family, domestic and sexual violence will take everyone in society all working actively together to see significant, lasting change.”
NSW Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:
“Every child deserves a safe, stable and nurturing home.
“This important program joins up local services in Dubbo and Wellington to give effective, coordinated support to families who need it.
“Domestic and family violence has a significant impact on children and young people. Innovative responses like the Family Safety Collaboration are essential to address it.”
NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
“This project is an example of collaboration across all levels of government, service providers and agencies to make lives safer for families in the Central West.
“It is particularly pleasing that local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are a key component of this coordinated effort.
“We know there are better outcomes when Aboriginal organisations are involved with the design, and implementation of Closing the Gap initiatives that change peoples’ lives for the better, such as this program.”
NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
“The NSW Government is working with local communities to address domestic and family violence in regional NSW.
“The Family Safety Collaboration is the first project of its kind for NSW and it will bring together the combined expertise of services in the region to benefit families in Dubbo and Wellington.
“We know support services work most effectively when they are joined-up so no one falls through the cracks.
“This innovative project will harness the strengths of the community to address domestic and family violence and help keep children safe in their homes.”
Labor spokesperson for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence said:
“As a Dubbo resident, I am acutely aware of the great need for this service in both Dubbo and Wellington.
“This is a particularly important initiative that aligns with the Closing the Gap framework, and will make a real difference in the lives of victim-survivors.”
ACWA’s Director of Family Safety and Preservation Carolyn Thompson said:
“This investment in the communities of Dubbo and Wellington is extremely welcome. It will ensure that services in Dubbo and Wellington can continue their collaboration to make sure support for families is early and seamless.
“It is vital for rural and regional families, who can face challenges to accessing services.
“We particularly thank the women who’ve shared their lived experience. They have inspired services to identify ways to further strengthen this network of support.”