Multicultural groups will receive an extra $2 million in funding as part of a record investment by the Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Government to address domestic and sexual violence.
Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said the funding will ensure faith based and community response services can assist more people than ever before.
“Domestic violence does not discriminate and every victim survivor should be able to receive the help they need regardless of their background,” Mrs Ward said.
“We know there are victim-survivors in diverse communities who are reluctant to seek mainstream support because of their visa status, the absence of a trusted social network in Australia or language and cultural barriers.
“These grants will increase the capacity of our response services across NSW and provide more targeted support for victim survivors in diverse communities.”
Eligible faith and multicultural community based applicants can apply for a one-off grant from a minimum of $20,000 up to $150,000.
Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said that in a culturally diverse society like NSW, everyone must have the means to respond and be safe from domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is not unique or isolated to any one community, which is why we all must rally together to bring an end to it,” Mr Coure said.
“We know that no two communities are the same, and that is why we are providing the investment to grassroots groups and organisations that know their communities best to deliver meaningful outcomes.
“This is about empowering local groups to respond to domestic and family violence in their communities in a way that is inclusive, culturally respectful, and accessible.”
The government is investing record funding of over $700 million in initiatives to support women’s safety including:
- $426.6 million to expand the Core and Cluster initiative, to deliver and operate new women’s refuges that will support up to an additional 2,900 women and children escaping domestic and family violence each year. This is the largest funding commitment ever made to the domestic violence sector
- landmark laws to criminalise coercive control in intimate partner relationships
- nation-leading affirmative consent laws, which commenced on 1 June 2022
- facilitating the immediate termination of a tenancy to escape violence
- the ‘Right To Ask’ scheme where people can find out if their partner has a history of domestic violence offences
- $20 million over two years for up to 200 additional electronic monitoring devices
- providing 24/7 support via the NSW Domestic Violence Line to help victims find a safe place to stay, or transport for them and their children; connecting them to police, courts, lawyers and counsellors; and help with a safety plan.
If re-elected, the NSW Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Government has also committed to:
- reviewing all NSW sentences for domestic violence related offences
- funding a specialist Domestic and Family Violence List across three local courts and funding a surge of five additional magistrates to ensure cases are heard earlier in the next term of Government
- waiving the Rentstart Bond Loan eligibility criteria for people leaving domestic violence
- providing access to First ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾r Buyer Choice and First ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Buyer Assistance schemes to victim survivors.
Grant applications will open on 13 February and close on 27 March.
Funds will be released in June 2023 following the grant assessment and approval process and must be expended by 30 June 2024.
