23 March 2023

Jo Palmer, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence

Bolstering family and sexual violence services

Tasmania’s frontline family and sexual violence services are being bolstered with $1.412 million being invested in crucial programs and additional staff.

Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Jo Palmer, said Tasmania was a proud signatory to the previous Coalition Government’s National Partnership on Family, Domestic, and Sexual Violence Responses 2021-23.

“This important partnership has already delivered $4.2 million to Tasmania’s family and sexual violence vital frontlines services, and initiatives targeted at diverse communities,” Minister Palmer said.

“I am pleased to advise the final $1.412 million allocation will further support our frontline organisations to provide the services victim-survivors need.”

The final funding allocation will provide:

• An additional caseworker and administrative support for the Family Violence Migration Service, delivered by Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service;
• Additional Funding to Women’s Legal Service Tasmania to provide financial counselling and financial literacy assistance for women experiencing family violence, financial abuse and financial hardship;
• Additional funding to the RSPCA to extend the highly successful Safe beds for Pets Program;
• An additional family violence specialist outreach counsellor for rural northern Tasmania, provided through Yemaya;
• Additional administrative, intake and case management support to Laurel House in the North and Sexual Assault Support Services in the South as part of the pilot Arch Centres; and
• Funding to provide training for frontline workers across the sector on the new MARAM tool, for risk assessment and management, including information sharing and working collaboratively.

Every Tasmanian has the right to live free from violence, which is why eliminating family and sexual violence is a top priority for the Rockliff Liberal Government

“We stand with all victim survivors who show courage, determination, spirit and tenacity each and every single day for a state where all Tasmanians, regardless of age, sex or race, feel safe, equal and respected,” Minister Palmer said.

“The National Partnership funding complements our Government’s $100 million commitment over the next five years to deliver actions from Tasmania’s Third Family and Sexual violence Action Plan: Survivors at the Centre, reaffirming our long-term commitment to eliminate family and sexual violence in Tasmania.”

Quotes attributable to Taya Ketelaar-Jones, Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service Senior Lawyer, and lawyer responsible for the Family Violence Migration Service:
This funding enables Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service to increase our capacity to deliver the free legal migration advice and representation service that we provide to temporary visa holders who have experienced/are experiencing family violence through our dedicated Family Violence Migration Service (FVMS).
The FVMS is the only free legal service in the State providing this assistance and since its launch in early 2021 we have struggled to meet the increasing demand for assistance, so this funding is critical to responding to this growing need.

More Media Releases from Jo Palmer

More Media Releases from the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence