The Western Australian Government has selected a partnership between two Aboriginal organisations to provide family violence prevention legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Perth.
The Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC) and Aboriginal Family Legal Services (AFLS) were chosen to provide the service under a tender process carried out by the Department of Justice.
The two Aboriginal community-controlled organisations currently provide family violence prevention legal services in regional areas.
Funded by the State Government, the partnership’s metropolitan service will begin operating in July 2022 under a three-year contract following a transition from the existing service provider.
The tender was restricted to partnerships led by Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.
The SAC and AFLS partnership will provide culturally sensitive legal and related services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are experiencing or recovering from family violence or sexual assault.
Those services will include advice, representation and support concerning matters such as family law, child protection, housing and tenancy, credit and debt, and restraining orders.
SAC’s Family Violence Prevention Service currently serves the Great Southern region from Albany, while AFLS operates in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Goldfields-Esperance regions.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“I congratulate SAC and AFLS on winning this competitive tender and look forward to their partnership servicing the metropolitan area.
“Their presence in regional areas will allow for a seamless transfer in supporting people who are moving in or out of Perth, leading to better outcomes for Aboriginal people.”
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk:
“Three in five Aboriginal women report physical or sexual violence at the hands of a partner and are more than 30 times more likely to be hospitalised from family violence than non-Aboriginal women.
“Responding to family and domestic violence is complex and requires a holistic and coordinated approach with related service providers that are culturally sensitive.”
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dr Tony Buti:
“To work towards our targets in Closing the Gap, it’s imperative we form partnership approaches with Aboriginal people, communities, and organisations.
“The partnerships we’re announcing with Southern Aboriginal Corporation and Aboriginal Family Legal Services are a good examples of this approach.”
