More funding for support services in the Fraser Coast

Victims of domestic and sexual violence will have greater access to support, after the Palaszczuk Government announced a major funding boost to service providers across the Fraser Coast region.

Attorney-General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman today revealed local services would receive more than $400,000 extra funding, as part of $22.5 million being provided to sexual, domestic, and family violence (SDFV) services over the next three years.

“We know this funding will make a real difference to vulnerable Queenslanders most at risk,” Minister Fentiman said.

Total funding to sexual, domestic and family violence services on the Fraser Coast is now more than $3 million for the 2022-23 financial year.

Minister Fentiman said it was important that dedicated support workers will receive tools to help victims better navigate and manage their trauma.

“The Queensland Government is boosting support for victims of domestic, family and sexual violence with extra funding for services across the state,” she said.

“We have seen an increased demand for services driven by a number of factors, including recent tragic events involving SDFV, national attention on women’s safety, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are continuing to take action to give these services more support, with a further $22.5 million in funding to the sector.

“Meeting with local services today, I’ve heard from them directly about the pressures that services are experiencing here in the Fraser Coast region”.

Member for Hervey Bay, Adrian Tantari welcomed the additional investment in local frontline services.

“It is crucial that we invest in our domestic violence and sexual services to ensure women and victims of violence can access support when they need it most,” he said.

“It was also great to host the Attorney-General here in Hervey Bay so that she could meet with our hardworking services and talk to them directly about the concerns of our community.”

Minister Fentiman said the funding has been allocated to service providers based on their increased demand, to ensure areas most in need received appropriate levels of extra service.

“We have continued to work with the sector to identify the areas seeing the biggest increases in demand to ensure the extra funding is allocated accordingly,” she said.

“Funding will be made available to help existing services meet this demand over the next three years to ensure the sector continues to respond to all forms of SDFV while reducing the barriers for victims accessing support.”

The increased funding is part of an extra $30 million over four years for domestic, family and sexual violence services committed to by the Queensland Government in 2021, with an initial boost of $7.5 million previously provided to the sector for on-going COVID-19 support. 

To learn more about the Queensland Government’s partnerships to raise awareness and prevent domestic and family violence visit www.qld.gov.au/notnownotevertogether.

ENDS

Media Contact: Olivia Amsden 0478 685 304