The Tasmanian Liberal Government is deeply committed to preventing family and sexual violence, meeting the needs of victim-survivors and holding perpetrators to account.
Since the launch of our first nation-leading Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan in 2015, this Government has invested more than $100 million to build on our commitment and scope in responding to family and sexual violence.
We have also secured a further $11.4 million in Australian Government funding.
Our Action Plans have always been living, flexible and adaptive to ensure we continue to meet the needs of the community and address new issues and priorities as they arise.
Today, our Government will launch our Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan 2022-2027, Survivors at the Centre, with a further $100 million investment over the forward estimates.
We would like to pay tribute to the former Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Hon Jacquie Petrusma, who left a distinguished legacy by securing a record 40 per cent increase in funding for the third Action Plan, increases in core funding for family and sexual violence services, long-term contracts and a nation-leading consultation plan to inform the development and implementation of Survivors at the Centre.
Listening to the voices of victim-survivors has been at the heart of our consultation, including:
We have heard many victim-survivors voices over this journey and as one victim-survivor wrote, “When someone reports have ONE person to help them from start to finish who coordinates all the services available. You get sick of telling your story all the time and each service only wants to know a little bit of the story. You don’t get a chance to tell it all and I want to tell it all!”
We have listened and are responding.
We are establishing two pilot multi-disciplinary centres to provide integrated support tailored to individual victim-survivors needs, featuring sexual assault support services, child safety officers, family violence counselling support services and witness intermediaries. These services will deliver a trauma-informed, best practice response that puts victim-survivors at the heart.
Survivors at the Centre also provides certainty for Tasmania’s specialist family and sexual violence counselling services with funding for five-year contracts. SafeChoices by CatholicCare, Engender Equality, Yemaya, Huon Domestic Violence Service, Sexual Assault Support Service, Laurel House, the Australian Childhood Foundation and the Family Violence Counselling Support Service play an integral role in the provision of professional and specialist services to help children, young people and adults affected by family and sexual violence.
We would like to thank these specialist services for their continued dedication to help victim-survivors of family and sexual violence in our community; and their efforts towards our goal of a Tasmania that is free from all forms of violence.
Today also marks the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Government, Members of Parliament, community representatives, the Head of the State Service, and heads of Government agencies have come together to reaffirm our commitment to end family and sexual violence.
The lighting of our iconic Tasman Bridge last night and tonight in orange also reminds us all that eliminating family and sexual violence requires a whole of community effort.
Breaking the silence around family and sexual violence is an important part of stopping it at the start – silence enables perpetrators to continue their violence. We pay tribute to those victim-survivors, their families and supporters who have shared their stories with us. Your lived experience will make a difference. We are listening and will continue to listen, and we will champion the message that all forms of violence are unacceptable in Tasmania.
Tasmania’s Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan 2022-2027: Survivors at the Centre can be viewed here: www.safefromviolence.tas.gov.au/
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
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual violence:
Call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 697 877
In an emergency, always call 000
For more information, visit www.1800respect.org.au or www.safefromviolence.tas.gov.au
More Media Releases from Jo Palmer
More Media Releases from the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence