The package covers frontline services support and legal assistance
A $4.7bn funding package announced by the National Cabinet last week has received praise from the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, and National Children’s Commissioner.
The package covers critical frontline services support and legal assistance to be provided to survivors.
Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, and National Children’s Commissioner have acknowledged the National Cabinet’s recent $4.7 billion funding announcement aimed at addressing gendered violence. The package includes support for frontline services and legal assistance for survivors.
“This funding is an important step to ensure that critical frontline services can continue to assist those impacted by gendered violence”, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody said. “The commitment to funding beyond the five-year plan is vital. Long-term and stable funding allows service providers to plan ahead and reach more women and children in need. We know how important community legal services are for women and children”.
Nonetheless, Cody noted that specific investment into services catering to First Nations peoples, culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) communities and underrepresented groups was necessary as well.
“Without this commitment, we risk leaving some of our most affected communities behind in the broader effort to end gender-based violence,” she said. “I also applaud the funding committed to men’s behaviour change programs. However, this alone is not enough – we must focus on the Rapid Review's recommendation to work with men to address root causes of violence and create systemic change”.
Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss also highlighted the need to invite First Nations women into the conversation.
“We must engage with and listen to the voices of First Nations women in shaping these reforms,” Kiss said. “There is an undeniable link between the ongoing crises of missing and murdered First Nations women, forms of violence that are largely perpetrated by white men. Any effective solution must be grounded in genuine collaboration with First Nations communities and cultural safety”.
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds lauded the allocation of funds aimed at addressing the needs of children and young people affected by violence in childhood.
“Despite data showing that domestic, family, and sexual violence is the most common type of maltreatment experienced in childhood, in the past, the needs of children have been largely ignored. This new focus and investment in the needs of children is long overdue and most welcome”, she said.
The commissioners also supported the launch of a national best-practice risk assessment framework and emphasised the importance of inclusive consultation.
“The development of any national framework must include the voices of people with disabilities, children and young people, First Nations communities, CARM individuals, and LGBTQIA+ groups. These groups face unique challenges, and their inclusion in policy design is critical to ensuring that no one is left behind”, Cody said.
