Call for Greater Investment in Specialist Front-Line Services

While we welcome continued funding, we know that there is increasing demand for our services; and that we are at crisis point.

Right across the sector we are working at, or beyond capacity. Our dedicated, specialist staff are working tirelessly to support families in our region to live a life free from family violence.

Yet more needs to be done. And we cannot do this without greater investment into frontline specialist services, and a commitment from Federal Government to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of victim survivors of family violence.

With more than one woman a week murdered as a result of gender-based and family violence, it’s time for those with the power to make the changes we seek to see, to listen and to act.

CNV, like many other specialist family violence prevention and support services right across the country, know that family violence is 100% preventable. We have decades of experience, research and specialist knowledge of the drivers of violence against women, children, First Nation Peoples and diverse communities.

And yet, when decision-making around funding, and investment into prevention and support is made, too often our voices and expertise is left out of the conversation.

We are tired of hearing that the work we do isn’t enough. We are tired of hearing that what we do isn’t working.

We know the work we do matters. We know it has an impact. We know our work saves lives. Over the last 34 years, the Centre for Non-Violence alone has supported tens of thousands of women and children escaping family violence.

We have, as an organisation provided millions of hours of prevention, crisis and therapeutic support for victim survivors who have experienced family violence across the Loddon area.

Our work with men who use violence has been instrumental in improving the lives and outcomes for victim survivors. It has also supported men to take responsibility for the choice to use violence and to change values and beliefs that drive the choice to use violence.

Our prevention work has seen thousands of hours of specialist training and workshops delivered to schools, local government and business within the region.

And while we work, the phones keep ringing and we keep answering.

But in order for us to continue to meet the increasing demand for our services we must not only be heard, but provided the capacity and resources to meet demand.

We are calling on not only an increase in funding to the sector, but an ongoing commitment by the Federal Government to deliver dedicated, long-term investment into programs and services, both in prevention and crucial front-line intervention.