The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) will receive $75,000 from the Queensland Government, in a cost sharing arrangement, to fund a dedicated domestic and family violence (DFV) prevention project officer for a year.
Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women, Di Farmer said, “Often I hear from organisations that they want to take action and they want to work on community initiatives, but they don’t know where to start.
“Having a dedicated domestic and family violence prevention project officer embedded within the peak body for local government authorities will give councils the support they need to get started, and will make it easier to share good ideas and best practice with councils across Queensland.”
Local Government Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, said councils had an immense ability to reach the community and influence community attitudes.
“This DFV prevention project officer will support councils to be leaders in their community around domestic and family violence, by identifying best practice within councils and sharing that with local government authorities across Queensland, and by developing resources to support LGAs.
“Some councils are already doing some really great work in this space – Mackay, Toowoomba and Redlands, for example – and we know many councils are keen to do more.”
LGAQ President, Mark Jamieson, said the initiative would ensure councils were better placed to advocate for the resources their communities needed to tackle domestic and family violence.
Redland City Mayor, Karen Williams, welcomed the cost-sharing commitment.
“Having a single point of contact to help coordinate resources and advocate to the State Government makes a great deal of sense.”
Minister Farmer congratulated LGAQ, saying, “This kind of partnership initiative is exactly what we want to see more of in Queensland, organisations using their power and influence to do good right across the state.”
