Page 501 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 8 March 2011
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eliminate the factors and triggers which unfortunately can lead to domestic violence occurring. This is a national plan which will actively work to increase gender equity with the aim of stopping violence occurring in the first place.
The ACT, along with all other jurisdictions, is in the process of creating and developing its local jurisdictional plan and plans to have it delivered and tabled in the middle of this year.
In 2010-11 the ACT government provided funding of $2.8 million over four years to community services which offer assistance and support for women and children experiencing domestic violence. The ACT strategy will encompass a whole of government and a whole of community approach to protecting the rights of women and children to live free from violence, with strategic focus on diversion, early intervention, primary prevention and on holding perpetrators accountable.
I would also like to acknowledge the good work that this government has undertaken to support women at a local level. Supporting women’s financial security and employment opportunities through our economic grants and scholarship programs is a key objective of the ACT women’s plan 2010-2015. Through the Office for Women we are advancing this objective through grants and scholarships such as our return to work grants which I have recently expanded the criteria for.
The overall aim of these changes in criteria is to enable older women who have been out of the workplace for some time due to caring responsibilities better opportunities to access the program and the financial assistance that it offers.
I would also like to acknowledge the microcredit program. As of 1 March this year, 17 loans have been approved through the microcredit program. This allows women access to interest-free loans of up to $3,000 to help them to establish or expand an existing business, and it is assisting in the growth of a diverse range of businesses for women on low incomes and providing them with opportunities to take their idea one step further.
Other grants programs include the women’s directors scholarship program, which affords women support through training with the Institute of Company Directors. We also provide the Audrey Fagan postgraduate scholarship program, the Audrey Fagan Churchill fellowship and also the Audrey Fagan young women’s enrichment grants program.
This is just some of the work that this government does to support local women.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, a supplementary question?
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, the last one for the day. Minister, can you please advise the Assembly how Canberra has celebrated International Women’s Day this year?
MS BURCH: Again, I thank Mr Hargreaves for his interest in International Women’s Day. As I have said, this is the 100-year anniversary of International Women’s Day;
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