Page 2396 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 August 2022
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DR PATERSON: Minister, how will these investments support victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence?
MS BERRY: The act government is committed to supporting victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence to take steps to keep themselves safe, to access services, to leave violent situations if they choose, and to heal and recover. The budget supports these commitments and ensures that victim-survivors will continue to have a voice in government policy in this space. The ACT government is investing over $1.4 million over four years to establish an ongoing consultation model for victim-survivors. This implements the first recommendation of the Listen. Take Action to Prevent, Believe and Heal report on sexual violence prevention and responses.
The 2022-23 budget also provides $935,000 over two years for specific consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including victim-survivors. The budget delivers new and reformed supports for victim-survivors of sexual violence across the ACT response system. These investments include $515,000 over four years to re-establish a wraparound service to connect supports for victim-survivors; $1.5 million over four years for independent sexual violence advisers to help victim-survivors to navigate services; and $4.4 million over four years to pilot a multidisciplinary centre to create a single, integrated access point for victim-survivors.
The budget also continues and expands existing services for victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence. This includes $5.9 million over three years for family violence safety action programs to continue integrated case management and information-sharing for people at higher risk of lethality as a result of domestic and family violence. It also includes $620,000 to boost crisis accommodation and supports through the Domestic Violence Crisis Service and the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.
MS ORR: Minister, how do these investments support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities, as part of the ACT’s response to domestic, family and sexual violence?
MS BERRY: I thank Ms Orr for the supplementary question. The ACT government recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people disproportionately face barriers to accessing safe and appropriate services for domestic, family and sexual violence. This is directly linked to racism and the ongoing violence of colonisation, which must be acknowledged. As a result, it is especially important that domestic, family and sexual violence services are designed and delivered with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s voices at the centre. This goes for all services. All services need to be culturally safe.
In this budget the ACT government is committing $935,000 over two years to continue consulting with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities about the implementation of the Listen. Take Action to Prevent, Believe and Heal report on sexual violence prevention and responses. The budget also commits $1.9 million over four years to scope, design and implement community-led responses to domestic and family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the ACT.
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