Thousands of family violence victims in Melbourne’s west could be stuck in life-threatening situations because promised funding has not been delivered, according to the key service provider.
Women’s Health West (WHW), which handles almost all family violence incidents in the west, has seen direct reports soar 54 per cent in the past year, while funding increased by only 2 per cent.
With 6209 family violence reports in the past financial year, chief executive Robyn Gregory said her team was struggling to keep up.
“This is the most severe spike in demand we’ve seen in the 20 years that we’ve provided family violence services in the western region,” Dr Gregory said. “Family violence services desperately need additional funds to keep women and children safe.”
Dr Gregory said WHW had not received any of the $30 million promised by Premier Denis Napthine earlier this year. “The sector welcomed the May announcement of
$30 million in new funding to protect women and children experiencing family violence. This was to be rolled out in June,” she said.
“Despite 29 family violence deaths in Victoria last year, including the devastating murder of Fiona Warzywoda in Sunshine in April, not one agency has received the promised funding.”
WHW receives joint funding from the federal and state governments, but it is the state government’s responsibility to allocate it.
A spokeswoman for Victoria’s Minister for Community Services, Mary Wooldridge, said $100 million each year was being invested by the state government “to change community attitudes”. She said the $30 million in promised funding was subject to a collaborative design process at the request of the sector, and work was still being done to find out which areas needed the most funding.
Dr Gregory said: “It’s time to move family violence up the budget priority list and release the pledged funds.”
If you are in immediate danger, call the police on triple-0. To escape family violence, contact Women’s Health West on 9689 9588 or the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service on 1800 015 188.
