Establish specialist family violence advisers in major mental health, drug and alcohol services

Funding has been allocated to establish specialist family violence advisor positions in each of the 17 Department of Health and Human Services areas. Two part time positions have been funded in the Wimmera to provide more effective coverage across a large area. The positions will increase access to specialist family violence skills across Victoria.

The established specialist family violence advisors will support the development of local capability and resources across mental health, alcohol and other drugs and family violence services across Victoria. In May 2017, the Minister for Mental Health announced allocation of $17.3 million over 4 years to allow specialist family violence advisors to be continued on an ongoing basis in alcohol and other drugs and mental health services across the state from July 2018.

Peak bodies and other stakeholders across alcohol and other drugs, mental health and family violence are engaged in a project implementation group that meets regularly.

Funding has been allocated to support sector engagement in the development of the service delivery framework and ongoing operation of the specialist advisors.