The FINANCIAL -- The
Australian and Northern Territory Governments will invest more than $3
million in a pilot project to reduce family violence and help make
homes, families and communities in Alice Springs safer.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, Northern Territory Minister for Central Australia, Karl Hampton and Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon today announced the funding as part of the Alice Springs Transformation Plan.The three-year pilot will develop an integrated approach to family violence by linking government and local agencies together, including the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter, National Association of Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Tangentyere Council, Central Australia Aboriginal Congress, local legal services and the NPY Women’s Council.
The project will teach young people about respectful relationships and introduce a new Family Safety Framework allowing agencies to work together to make women safer and give coordinated support to women and children at risk of violence.
It will also provide additional support services at court to prioritise family safety, increase offender accountability and promote behaviour change among offenders.
Minister for Central Australia Karl Hampton said the project would allow government and non-government services to work together to improve peoples’ lives.Mr Hampton said the funding includes seven new positions in Government and local agencies: a Family Violence Project Manager, Victims Advocacy and Support worker, Defendant Assessment and Referral worker, Behaviour Change Program Facilitators and cultural and clinical consultants.
Federal Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon said the pilot program demonstrated the importance of government and community working together to address family violence.Funding for the program is being provided under the $150 million Alice Springs Transformation Plan, a joint initiative of the Australian and Northern Territory Governments to transform the town camps, reduce overcrowding and improve services throughout the town.
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