A new program is being developed to help prevent family violence against people from LGBTIQ communities, thanks to a funding boost from the Victorian Government.
Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams today announced $95,000 in funding for La Trobe University’s Rainbow Health Victoria service to develop a vital family violence prevention training program to help reduce family violence against LGBTIQ Victorians.
The program is in addition to the $600,000 LGBTIQ Family Violence Primary Prevention Project, which is a two-year pilot project run by Rainbow Health Victoria, aimed at addressing the critical gaps in LGBTIQ family violence prevention and strengthening the workforce capacity in this area.
Also launched today was Rainbow Health Victoria’s Pride in Prevention: A guide to primary prevention of family violence experienced by LGBTIQ communities. The guide will be used to help practitioners and policy makers further develop programs and activities to address violence against people from LGBTIQ communities.
The new guide breaks down national and international evidence on the prevalence, nature and drivers of family violence experienced by people from LGBTIQ communities and identifies priority actions.
The Victorian Government is working in partnership with the LGBTIQ and prevention sectors to address family violence.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams
“The groundbreaking new guide will help build critical evidence and strengthen sector capacity to understand what works to address family violence against people from LGBTIQ communities”.
“LGBTIQ Victorians need responsive and inclusive family violence services and, despite our progress, we know they still experience stigma and marginalisation – that’s why programs like this are so important.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Equality Martin Foley
“We want to ensure Victoria remains the equality state of Australia – this means addressing the unacceptably high rate of family violence against LGBTIQ Victorians, which is exactly what these programs are going to do.”
Quote attributable to Victorian Gender and Sexuality Commissioner Ro Allen
“This Pride in Prevention guide will keep Victoria being world leaders – in both the family violence space and globally in LGBTIQ work as well.”