The flagship of Tasmania’s nation leading $26 million Family Violence Action Plan, the Safe Families Tasmanian Coordination Unit, is now fully operational.
The Safe Families Tasmania Coordination Unit has completed a successful trial phase, which began on April 4, and as of June 27 it is now taking referrals.
The coordination unit is revolutionising how we address family violence in Tasmania, to ensure we better protect families experiencing violence and perpetrators are held to account.
This is Tasmania’s first whole of Government family violence unit, it is led by Police and includes 11 new expert staff: an investigator and analyst from both Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, an investigator from Department of Education, and a review officer from the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management.
Together, they are undertaking inter-agency case assessment of families experiencing family violence.
Importantly, the unit will ensure families at risk are identified and supported as early as possible, and also aid in the prosecution of offenders, through dedicated information gathering and intelligence development activities.
This will reinforce to those experiencing family violence that there is help, and send a clear message to those committing family violence that it is utterly unacceptable, and there will be consequences.
Working alongside the Safe Families Coordination Unit is the new Safe Choices Statewide Services, which delivers early intervention and prevention support to anyone affected by family violence, including those who want to exit violent relationships.
We have committed $8 million over four years to support the implementation of the Safe Families Tasmania Coordination Unit and Safe Choices.
This is only possible because under our leadership the Budget is back on track and we are now able to reinvest more in protecting the vulnerable.
Importantly, this work is on schedule and I commend all the hard work of those behind the scenes who are instrumental in bringing about the necessary changes needed to address family violence.
While our Implementation Plan guides our actions, our approach will continue to change and evolve as new services and innovations in this area develop across Australia.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family violence, call the Safe at Home Family Violence Response and Referral Line on 1800 633 937 or visit www.1800respect.org.au In an emergency, always call 000.