Vital funds delivered to keep children, women safe, boost jobs

The Palaszczuk Government will provide more than $1.2 billion in 2016-17 to support Queensland families, tackle domestic and family violence, reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids in care, and create more jobs for Queenslanders.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said the Palaszczuk Government had elevated its commitment to addressing domestic and family violence in Queensland with an almost $200 million whole-of-government investment package.

“Tackling domestic and family violence is one of the Palaszczuk Government’s highest priorities. We must ensure that support is available to victims of domestic violence, no matter where they live,” Ms Fentiman said.

“It is also vital that we continue to address the underlying attitudes and behaviours that feed the cycle of violence.

“This $198.2 million funding package demonstrates our government’s strong commitment to addressing domestic and family violence as we continue to implement all 140 recommendations from the Not Now, Not Ever taskforce report led by Dame Quentin Bryce.

“Part of this effort is to ensure we are identifying high risk perpetrators early and reaching out to help victims of domestic and family violence as soon as possible.”

Ms Fentiman said the government would continue its focus on early intervention in the child protection space, after seeing positive results with more than 7000 families being referred by Family and Child Connect Services to the services they needed.

“We need to make sure that when families need help they can get it, and that’s why we are continuing to open these vital new services across the state,” she said.

“The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who end up in the child protection system is unacceptable and we know we must work earlier and better to support them, their families and communities.

“We are investing in a number of community-run and community-controlled programs that are focussed on early intervention and keeping families together.”

Job creation and innovative frontline services are also front and centre of the Budget with more than 68 jobs being created in 2016-17 from the domestic and family violence investment and around 220 new jobs from the child safety initiatives.

“Our government believes that every Queenslander deserves a chance to reach their full potential – to participate equally in our economy and society,” Ms Fentiman said.

“That’s why are investing in social services and infrastructure, and leveraging community efforts, to assist with cost of living pressures and create new pathways to jobs.

“Together with other government investments, we are not only working towards reducing inequality, but growing our economy.”

Key whole-of-government DVF initiatives include:

• $43.1 million over four years for new, enhanced specialist and generalist services to address service gaps including counselling services, sexual assault services, a ‘step-down’ women’s health service and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• $42.4 million over four years allocated from 2016-17 to rollout specialist domestic and family violence courts, building on learnings from the specialist court trial at Southport.
• $26.3 million over four years to rollout eight High Risk Teams (HRTs) and expand the Logan/Beenleigh HRT as part of an integrated service response.
• $10.3 million over four years for rollout of perpetrator intervention services as part of Government’s commitment to achieve state-wide services within three years.
• $9.6 million over four years for a communication and engagement program to help change attitudes and behaviours of Queenslanders towards DFV.
• $8.7 million over four years to establish two new DFV shelters for women and children escaping DFV in Charters Towers and in a rural or remote location.
• $11 million over four years for dedicated DFV coordinators to join Community Justice Groups in 18 discrete Indigenous communities and to support culturally appropriate DFV response services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Other community initiatives include:

• $13.8 million for Family and Child Connect services including two new services in Mount Isa/Gulf and Cape York/Torres Strait to complete the state-wide rollout.
• $45.7 million for Intensive Family Support services across the state for families with multiple and complex needs.
• New rest and recovery services will commence operation in 15 Safe Night Precincts to reduce alcohol related violence and create safer entertainment precincts through funding of $3.5 million in 2016-17.
• Additional funding of $4 million in 2016-17 has been provided to extend existing community support measures in drought declared areas to strengthen resilience of drought affected Queenslanders.
• As part of a $25 million investment over four years, $5.5 million has been provided in 2016-17 for a redesigned Financial Resilience program, including new financial counselling positions and pilot of Good Money shops in the Gold Coast and Cairns.
• $6.9 million over four years to enhance the sustainability of 43 existing small neighbourhood centres across Queensland and to trial Community Connect Workers.
• Additional funding of $2 million in 2016-17 and $500,000 ongoing from 2017-18 to modernise the Community Recovery Disaster Management system.

For more information about the Budget visit www.budget.qld.gov.au

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