The Albanese Labor Government is boosting its response to family, domestic and sexual violence in Western Australia, with a $31.7 million investment to support victim-survivors and hold perpetrators to account.
For people experiencing violence, access to timely support can be lifesaving. Frontline domestic, family and sexual violence workers provide that critical support, helping people navigate crisis and begin to rebuild their lives.
An investment of $30.1 million will support 50 fulltime frontline workers in Western Australia through to 2030 as part of our 500 Workers Initiative – because we know frontline workers are essential to ensuring people can access the support they need, when they need it most.
But responding to violence after it occurs is only part of the solution.
To end violence, we must also intervene early, challenge harmful behaviours, and stop violence before it escalates or is passed on to the next generation.
That’s why we are investing a further $1.6 million to expand the Caring Dads Program to an additional three sites across Perth and regional Western Australia.
Delivered by Stronger Families WA, this program works with fathers who have used violence, including intimidation and coercive control, to understand the effects of their behaviour and take accountability.
The program also supports teenage and young fathers who are using violence, including young men who have been in out of home care, providing opportunities for early intervention before harmful behaviours become entrenched.
Programs like Caring Dads importantly recognise that children are victim-survivors of violence in their own right.
This funding boost is an important step in the right direction to create safer homes and stronger futures for Western Australian children and families.
Strengthening both the response to violence and the efforts needed to prevent it are at the core of our National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. Over the past few months, we’ve held over 160 roundtables with over 1,100 people across the country to help shape the next five years of the National Plan. The Second Action Plan will be released in the first half of 2027.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek:
“Every woman and child deserves to be safe at home. That’s why we’re investing in innovative programs across the country like Caring Dads that help fathers using violence to take responsibility and build a better future for their family.
“Breaking cycles of violence is one of the most important investments we can make for the next generation.
“At the same time, we’re continuing to back the frontline workers who save lives every day and help families rebuild.
“Today’s $31.7 million investment is another important step towards a future where every woman and child can live free from violence, fear and abuse.”
Quotes attributable to the WA Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, Jessica Stojkovski:
“There is never an excuse for violence. The Cook Labor Government is working closely with the Albanese Labor Government to strengthen frontline responses, support victim-survivors and hold perpetrators to account.
“This investment means more families can receive help when and where they need it to protect women and children from violence.
“Building safe and inclusive communities also means changing harmful behaviour. The Caring Dads program is helping fathers understand their actions have consequences and they hold accountability for their family’s safety.
“We all need to play our part in preventing family and domestic violence, which includes a focus on respect across the community, so we can stop it before it starts.”
