Almost $4 million has been earmarked in next week’s state budget to women incarcerated at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre who have experienced “significant domestic abuse issues”.
The budget offers $3.6million over two years for sexual assault and family violence recovery counselling for women at the centre and at Tarrengower Prison.
A Corrections Victoria spokesman said the new funding was a direct response to three recommendations from the Royal Commission on Family Violence involving women in prisons.
“Recommendations … specifically reference the need for additional programs, counselling and support services for women in prison who have experienced family violence,” he said.
Counselling and group-based programs, such as Out of the Dark, will be available over the next 12 months to all female prisoners who have experienced family violence.
Melbourne City Mission has delivered the Out of the Dark program in prisons since 2009 and says it has supported hundreds of women to break the cycle of family violence.
“Out of the Dark supports women to understand the impacts of violence on them and their children, and to break the cycle when they are released back into the community,” City Mission’s homelessness and justice services director Sheridan Bruinhout told Star Weekly.
“We are looking forward to working with the government on expanding this incredibly valuable service.
“Out of the Dark supports women to understand the impacts of violence on them and their children, and to break the cycle when they are released back into the community.”
The new funding will add to rehabilitation programs, including a plan for Centre inmates to care for lost pets, the brainchild of Brimbank, Wyndham and Hobsons Bay councils.
The funding will also provide for a therapeutic family violence recovery program.
