Grampians Community Health programs focused on counselling men who have committed acts of family violence will be expanded after receiving $195,000 from the state government.
The family violence programs and referral services encourage men to acknowledge the impact of their violence and change their behaviour through group-based intervention.
Western Victoria MP Jaala Pulford said the investment would support Grampians Community Health to continue delivering these services.
“We are breaking the cycle of family violence by making men accountable for their actions and helping them address their behaviours,” she said.
“We know the devastating impact that men who commit family violence has on their own families, as well as the wider community and this funding is about stamping out this behaviour.”
The funding comes after a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Family Violence that more men’s behavioural change programs be made available to meet the demands of the community and of court orders.
The state government will also support the No to Violence and Men’s Referral Services to provide information and guidance on men’s family violence to perpetrators, frontline staff and the community.
“The Labor Government is working to end family violence through its $1.9 billion package of measures in the Victorian Budget 2017/18,” Ms Pulford said.
“This record investment includes $49.4 million over four years for the Changing Perpetrator Behaviour initiative.
“The Government will provide further funding for this initiative following the completion of a co-design process with relevant agencies.”
