More than a million dollars will be invested in Local Government NSW to implement the new $383 million Pathways to Prevention program across the state.
The program is the state’s first dedicated domestic family and sexual violence primary prevention strategy.
The NSW Government is taking a whole-of-community approach to primary prevention, to help change attitudes that condone violence against women and children.
NSW Minister for Local Councils Ron Hoenig said local councils were key connectors in their community, often working with local organisations and linking into domestic and family violence support services, so they present a unique opportunity to lead a coordinated best practice approach to primary prevention of gendered violence.
He said this partnership builds on the recent launch of the Multi-Sport Coalition for primary prevention, bringing together professional sports clubs, state sporting organisations, industry stakeholders and the government to use their influence to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence and progress gender equality through sport.
“Eliminating domestic and family violence is a complex challenge that requires the whole of government and the whole of community to work together to achieve this goal,” Mr Hoenig said.
“As the closest level of government to communities, councils can play an important role in preventing gendered violence and help build a society that promotes gender equality, healthy relationships and is free from violence.”
LGNSW President Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said the three-year primary prevention partnership aims to stop domestic, family and sexual violence before it starts.
Under the partnership, the state government will provide more than $1 million to the peak body to fund a range of primary prevention activities including unconscious bias training, gender equality initiatives, and develop resources to enhance awareness and understanding of primary prevention initiatives across NSW councils.
Mayor Miller OAM said councils stood at the forefront of their communities and, when fairly resourced, were often best placed to take a leadership role in addressing societal issues.
“Domestic, family and sexual violence affects every community – and it’s entirely preventable. With the right tools, councils can help stop it before it starts,” Mayor Miller said.
“Public safety has long been part of council work, and more are recognising their unique role in preventing this kind of violence,” she said.
“Councils have also backed multiple LGNSW Conference resolutions, showing strong, united support for action on this issue,” Mayor Miller said
The funding allows Local Government NSW to:
• employ a Domestic and Family Violence Primary Prevention Officer who will coordinate primary prevention activities with local councils, communities and non-government organisations to improve community awareness and understanding.
• develop a guide to help councils deliver localised primary prevention initiatives including action planning templates and prioritisation tools.
• provide unconscious bias training, gender equality initiatives, and resources to boost awareness and understanding of primary prevention across all local councils in NSW.
According to Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Minister Jodie Harrison this work forms part of a wider NSW Government effort to stop the violence before it starts.
“We know that domestic, family and sexual violence is preventable – and primary prevention is about stopping it before it starts.
“We want to work with local communities on the ground to change the underlying beliefs and cultures across our society that have tolerated – and even condoned – violence against women and children.
“We can’t do this alone. We need councils – and the communities they represent – to help.
“Our investment in primary prevention complements our ongoing work to support victim-survivors of domestic and family violence and ensure perpetrators are held to account.”
She said the implementation of the $38.3 million Primary Prevention Strategy goes hand-in-hand with the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing work to eliminate of domestic, family and sexual violence through early intervention, crisis response and recovery. This includes:
• $48 million to expand the Staying Home Leaving Violence Program statewide, and the Integrated Domestic Family and Violence Service.
• Legislative reforms to make it harder than ever for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail.
• Introducing electronic monitoring for alleged serious domestic violence offenders.
• Strengthening laws to protect against repeated breaches of apprehended domestic violence orders.
NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said local councils were in a unique position to increase awareness and understanding of domestic, family and sexual violence and drive lasting change in their communities.
“By harnessing local knowledge and networks, primary prevention initiatives can play a critical role in fostering attitudes and behaviours that result in safer communities.
“I’m pleased to see that local primary prevention initiatives will be supported through the partnership announced with Local Government NSW.”
Support:
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.
