The Andrews Labor Government is supporting multicultural and faith organisations with extended funding to prevent family violence using innovative approaches across the state.
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Ros Spence today announced 23 multicultural and faith organisations will share in $1.61 million to continue programs under the Supporting Multicultural and Faith Communities to Prevent Family Violence Grants Program.
Organisations will be able to build on existing community projects which address the gendered drivers of violence by challenging harmful gender stereotypes and strengthening positive, equal and respectful relationships.
The funding will strengthen community-led approaches to prevent family violence and violence against women, including engaging with men and boys, and faith and community leaders to create positive change.
South East Community Links will receive additional funding to deliver its Towards Gender Equality and Safer Families project, connecting boys from Lyndale Secondary School’s Afghan Boys Soccer Club with role models from Melbourne City Football Club to engage boys about respectful relationships.
The funding will also support the Board of Imams Victoria Inc. to deliver a positive parenting program as well as a program for engaging with men and boys based on the Victorian Principles for Perpetrator Intervention (2017) and religious principles which teach respectful relationships with others.
Other grant recipients include Cultura, Buddhist Council of Victoria, Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, Jewish Care Victoria, La Sobremesa and the Victorian Sikh Gurduaras Council.
As stated by Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Ros Spence
“When it comes to preventing family violence in our multicultural communities, we know community organisations and trusted multicultural and multifaith leaders know best how to lead this work.”
“This additional funding will help strengthen the work of community, faith and cultural organisations to prevent family violence and violence against women before it starts.”
As stated by Minister for Multicultural Affairs Colin Brooks
“We know Victoria’s multicultural communities and multifaith leaders understand their communities better than anyone and will be central to improving respectful and healthy relationships between men and women.”
