Family Violence Prevention Made a Government Priority

Victoria’s largest government body against family violence will form into an independent statutory authority, working with not for profits to combat family violence and gender inequality.  

Chair of Respect Victoria, Melanie Eagle, said the enshrining of the organisation into legislation would ensure they could continue as an independent voice on family violence.

“It’s positive because we won’t be subject to the priorities that might change with any government at any time,” Eagle told Pro Bono News.

She also said their independence meant more room for collaboration with community and government organisations.

“This will mean greater collaboration with the many players involved in prevention campaigns and initiatives, from big government, to community and NFP groups,” she said.  

“We’ve all got a role to play and we will have that independent capacity to do it.”

Eagle said the collaboration would involve helping organisations incorporate respectful values and prevention methods into the specific issues they were working with.     

She said there was already really positive work happening within the sector to work towards equality and advocate for respectful relationships, but hoped they would be able to build on the work that already existed.

“These people are actually already contemplating how this might fit into their work. There’s a lot of great stuff going on and then this is about perhaps building on that, sharing from the positive activities and suggesting new ones.”

Victoria is currently the only state in Australia to have a dedicated and protected in legislation entity committed to preventing family violence, which Eagle said showed the state was ahead of the pack.

“That bill was supported by all parties as it went through Parliament in the lower and upper houses,” she said.

“It’s a very strong statement about where we are at in Victoria and the government’s commitment to it.”