Funding for Queensland’s diverse communities to respond to DFV

Fourteen community organisations across Queensland have been successful in receiving grant funding from the Queensland Government for projects that respond to domestic and family violence (DFV) in the state’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said the funding was being delivered under the first round of the $1 million Safe and Diverse Communities Grants.

“These grants are part of our commitment to women’s safety and the prevention of DFV in Queensland’s culturally diverse communities,” Ms Fentiman said.

“We know that culturally and linguistically diverse Queenslanders can be at increased risk of experiencing DFV and face additional barriers to reporting violence, seeking support and escaping a DFV situation.

“The Safe and Diverse Communities Grants build on our commitment to working in partnership with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to address DFV”.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard said women in culturally diverse communities can face an increased risk of domestic and family violence, isolation and language barriers, which may affect their ability to seek assistance when escaping violent relationships.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s Safe and Diverse Communities Grants Program is vital to ensuring vulnerable women from diverse backgrounds receive assistance when they need it most,” Ms Linard said.  

Minister Fentiman said 14 community organisations have been successful in receiving a grant of between $10,000 and $25,000 to support small, targeted community-led projects in diverse communities to prevent, recognise and respond to domestic, family and sexual violence.

“The projects will be delivered across Queensland with a focus on engaging with cultural and faith leaders, awareness raising, developing understanding of Australian law and respectful relationships, and providing education within CALD communities,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Projects include workshops by The Migrant Centre on the Gold Coast to provide training to recognise the signs and patterns of DFV including coercive control, and videos produced in Kurdish and Arabic to provide information on DFV as part of the settlement orientation program for new members of that community in Toowoomba.

“The George Street Neighbourhood Centre in Mackay will also receive a grant to deliver four rounds of a short course on women's safety and wellbeing for local CALD women.”

Minister Fentiman said the projects receiving a grant under round one would be delivered over eight months between February and October 2022.

“The projects and all innovative, culturally appropriate and focused on primary prevention, which will strengthen the capacity of Queensland CALD communities to address all forms of violence against women,” she said.

The Safe and Diverse Communities Grants are available over four years to 2024.

For more information, and to see a list of projects being funded under round one visit:  https://www.qld.gov.au/safediversegrants.

ENDS

Media contact:          Olivia Amsden 0407 952 078