BALLARAT family violence support services have praised the appointment of the state’s first assistant commissioner into the area of command.
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Victoria Police appointed Dean McWhirter in Melbourne on Tuesday to help lead the family violence command area.
Family violence, sexual assault and child abuse, when the victim and the perpetrator are known to each other, will be the command’s main focus areas.
Assistant Commissioner McWhirter made three commitments to fulfil in his new role, which included speaking loudly and often about family violence, promising to keep women and children safe and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
The command area will also focus on education and how Victoria Police can work with support services.
Child and Family Services Ballarat’s Michael Brandenburg welcomed the move.
“It is great news. The police continue to take issues of family violence very seriously,” he said.
The family violence services manager said CAFS had a close working relationship with Ballarat Police’s family violence unit.
“We get 1000 referrals from police per year. The CAFS family violence programs are extremely well linked with the justice response system,” he said. “Judging by the number of referrals, suggest (police) are doing a good job.”
WRISC Family Violence Support Ballarat chief executive Elizabeth Jewson was also pleased by the appointment.
“It shows Victoria Police are prioritising family violence (issues) and we feel that is a positive,” she said. “We have a much stronger relationship with Victoria Police than we have done in the past.”
kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au
