In three years the state government has implemented more than half of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Family violence services and campaigners are determined to continue the momentum of positive change.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Prevention of Family Violence Minister Gabrielle Williams joined family violence campaigner Rosie Batty on Thursday to deliver the Three years on from the Royal Commission into Family Violence report.
The report shows 120 recommendations made by the Royal Commission have now been fully implemented.
The latest 30 include changes to how Victoria Police responds to family violence, a review of the Residential Tenancies Act to better protect tenants experiencing family violence, changes to how the Magistrates' Court of Victoria handles family violence matters and dedicated family violence workers in the Melbourne Children's Court.
Family violence is not just a women's issue. It is a men's issue and it is an all of society issue. That is how we will see change because it is cultural change that we need.
- Wendy Surgess, CAFS Ballarat
Meanwhile in Ballarat, family violence services are eagerly preparing for the implementation of the Ballarat Orange Door Support Hub.
The hub, to be one of eight across Victoria, will be a single contact point for people experiencing family violence, allowing intervention before victims reach crisis point.
Child and Family Services Ballarat deputy chief executive Wendy Sturgess said the it was expected the Orange Door Support Hub would be set up in Ballarat by the end of the year.
"In the past we have seen a lack of integration of services," Ms Sturgess said.
"The Orange Door will be a focal point where people know to go and seek help. It is a unique model that will service perpetrators of violence and those that are seeking help from violence as well."
CAFS and statewide data shows an increasing number of people experiencing family violence are presenting for help - an increase that is described as a positive result of improved awareness and education.
While improvements have been made, Ms Sturgess said it was important all sectors of the community continued to take responsibility for addressing family violence and gender inequality.
"Family violence is not just a women's issue. It is a men's issue and it is an all of society issue. That is how we will see change because it is cultural change that we need," she said.
READ MORE: Hear Rosie Batty's message to Ballarat
"We know gender inequality is one of the key drivers of family violence, so we need to address gender inequality right back to kindergarten, schools, sporting clubs, how the media portrays men and women, and more women on boards and in leadership roles.
"It takes time, commitment and a willingness to keep having the conversation in all sectors of society to make how we treat women everybody's responsibility."
The state government has also rolled out Respectful Relationships education in more than 1000 Victorian schools and established the state's first ever family violence prevention agency - Respect Victoria as part of a response to recommendations.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- "I will never be free": family violence victims suffer abuse after separation
- 'Family violence is a health issue': hospital strengthens response
- Family violence traumatising for children caught in the middle
- How the system failed this grandmother after a lifetime of family violence
- Collaborative approach to address scope of family violence
- Equality key to family violence prevention, focus of new Women's Health Grampians campaign
- OPINION Tamara Farrell death; why we need to talk violence against women