June 2002

Family violence concerns tackled

A unique, indigenous-led taskforce will address the trauma of family violence within Aboriginal communities.

The Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Taskforce is part of a $7.6 million initiative announced in the recent State budget.

It aims to develop a long-term, sustainable response to the incidence of family violence within Victoria’s Aboriginal community.

The Taskforce was announced by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Keith Hamilton and Community Services Minister Bronwyn Pike.

‘This is in addition to the $1 million allocated to this program from the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services,’ Mr Hamilton said.

‘Family violence has been an issue of serious concern to indigenous families and communities in Victoria and throughout Australia.

‘After extensive consultation and a process of community empowerment, the Taskforce will develop a ‘community led’ strategy that will develop an appropriate and effective response to the issue of indigenous family violence.’

Ms Pike said the Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Taskforce was an Australian first in that it recognised that the solutions to family violence may lie within indigenous communities themselves.

‘While it is difficult to document the extent of violence in indigenous families and communities in Victoria, there is a general consensus that violence is disproportionately high and increasing.

‘This new initiative aims to resource, support and develop an indigenous-led strategy that will prevent, reduce and respond to the family violence issue.’

The Taskforce, in developing the Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Strategy, will:

• Fully engage and encourage the participation of the indigenous community;

• Build the capacity of the community to participate in the design and delivery of policy programs and services;

• Identify issues requiring immediate response and at the same time develop strategies for the long term.

Mr Hamilton said the Government’s role would be to support, empower and enable communities to examine the issues of family violence and develop solutions appropriate to local conditions and needs.

‘Government will assist with the development of an integrated and coordinated ‘whole-of-Government’ approach that supports the development and implementation of holistic local community-driven responses.’

Ms Pike said Victoria’s indigenous communities were struggling to deal with the impact of the State’s history.

‘By any measure, Aboriginal people are the most disadvantaged and marginalised group within the Victorian population.

‘This initiative will provide a strong base for addressing the issue of family violence and subsequently help close the gap in outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous Victorians.’