Emphasise prevention, early intervention and long-term recovery

Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s Plan for Change (10 Year Plan) outlines the government's vision for a future where all Victorians are safe, thriving and live free from family violence by reforming our approach to prevention, responses for victim survivors, improving perpetrator accountability and making system-wide changes.

Free from Violence: Victoria’s Strategy to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women (Primary Prevention Strategy) will provide the framework for our ongoing commitment to changing the social conditions that lead to family violence over the long term.

The first Family Violence Rolling Action Plan was released in May 2017 and builds on 10 Year Plan and the Primary Prevention Strategy by outlining the specific actions, initiatives and investment necessary to implement the first phase of reform as well as broader reform of the social services and justice systems.

Rolling Action Plans will be released approximately every three years.

The 10 Year Plan was released in November 2016 and is supported by the Primary Prevention Strategy and the first Family Violence Rolling Action Plan.

The 2016-17 State Budget provided $572.4 million over three years as an immediate response to family violence, including $98.2 million over two years to provide specialist support for family violence victims including statewide crisis responses and therapeutic interventions. It also included $23 million over three years towards targeted prevention initiatives for all Victorians, including for adolescents, adults, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and seniors.

Further to this investment, the 2017-18 State Budget allocated an unprecedented $1.91 billion to continue the landmark reforms to keep women and children safe and end family violence. This includes $50.7 million for Victoria’s first Prevention Strategy and to establish the state’s first Prevention Agency and $270.8 million for specialist support for people experiencing family violence.

The 2018-19 State Budget provides a further $141.1 million dollars to continue work on the landmark reforms to the family violence system, prevention and gender equality initiatives. This includes $13.5 million over four years for the Aboriginal 10-Year Family Violence Plan to support a strong integrated Aboriginal workforce and family violence prevention and response sector, and to create better access, and more appropriate family violence services for Aboriginal people. I also includes $4.2 million over three years to support the Implementation Monitor’s oversight of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

This recommendation is implemented.