Indigenous Communities fight family violence

Funding of $2.2 million has been granted to 30 indigenous community organisations for the first stage of Australia's National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme Australian Senators Newman and Herron announced today.

The grants are part of the Federal Government's national strategy in stopping violence in indigenous communities.

"The Howard Government is committed to supporting indigenous families and their communities' in stopping family violence," Senator Newman said.

"We have established the National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme to provide practical and flexible support for grassroots projects and to trial new approaches to reduce family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

"The grants, for 30 projects around Australia, are the first stage in a three-year programme to build community-based solutions to family violence - solutions that are designed and run at a local level to prevent and reduce family violence," Senator Newman said.

The National Indigenous Family Violence Grants were based on principles proposed and agreed to at the Round Table of indigenous stakeholders convened by Senator Herron on indigenous family violence. The initiatives will be funded under the Government's successful Partnerships Against Domestic Violence programme.

"At this Round Table meeting, indigenous participants canvassed ways in which this serious problem could be addressed more effectively, including community ownership of programmes designed for specific communities," Senator Herron said.

"Research has shown that violence directed towards spouses and other family members is significantly higher in the indigenous population than the non-indigenous population and in some communities violence affects up to 90 percent of indigenous families," he said.

The Commonwealth Government has committed $50 million to Partnerships Against Domestic Violence, a collaborative initiative with the States and Territories and the community to find more effective ways of preventing domestic violence across Australia.

As part of Partnerships, the Government has committed $6 million to the National Indigenous Family Violence Grants programme.

Senator Newman said: "These grants will help indigenous communities respond to family violence and provide support to all sectors of the community working together in close cooperation and partnership.

Senator Herron said: "The Government looks forward to continuing to collaborate with indigenous organisations to work together towards achieving communities which are free from violence and fear."

The 30 indigenous community organisations to receive a total of $2.2 million funding in the first stage of the National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme are:

1. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Welfare Resource and Housing - Krurungal (Gold Coast QLD) Family Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention Programme
2. Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation (Nhulunbuy NT) Aboriginal Cultural Family Mediation Project
3. Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc (Ceduna SA) Ceduna Community Family Violence Programme
4. Murrigunyah Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Women (Logan QLD) Family Violence - Service Model Assessment Project
5. Burdiya Aboriginal Corporation (Canning WA) 'Strengthening the Heart' Project
6. Ngaringga Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (Halls Creek WA) Children's Drop in Centre
7. Burringurrah Community Aboriginal Corporation (Gascoyne WA) Strong Families, Strong Community, Strong Culture
8. Nunga Mi:Minar (Adelaide SA) Nunga Child's Play
9. Cairns and District Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Women Bedtime Stories by Auntie Dee
10. Regional Yamatji Murni Wangga Aboriginal Corporation (Geraldton WA) Cultural Training on Family Violence
11. Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Family Community Care Centre (NSW) Coffs Harbour Indigenous Family Violence Programme
12. Sandgate Indigenous Community Network (Brisbane) Safety in Families Project
13. Geraldton Regional Domestic Violence Project sponsored by Yulella Aboriginal Corporation (Meekatharra WA) Building a Better Community - Meekatharra
14. Secretariat of National Aboriginal & Islander Child Care (national) National Family Violence and Child Abuse Community Awareness and Prevention Campaign
15. Goreta Aboriginal Corporation (Point Pearce SA) Family Support Workers to assist in issues, community education referral,co-ordination
16. South West Aboriginal Medical Service (Bunbury WA) Lets not Blame
17. Gudu Wondjer Safe House sponsored by Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council (Eden NSW) Gudu Wondjer/Respect Project
18. Southern Women's Housing Inc. (Bega NSW) Koori Domestic Violence Inter-agency Group and Working with Children who have Experienced Domestic Violence
19. Gumbi-Gumbi Aboriginal & Strait Islander Corporation (Rockhampton) Family education as family healing; Education workshop activities for the whole family
20. Tangentyere Council (Central Australia) Remote Night Patrol Support
21. Jarlmadangah Buru Aboriginal Community (Kimberly) Promoting Life for Indigenous Young People Living with Family and Community Violence in the Kimberley Region of WA
22. The Cairns & District Regional Indigenous Men's Groups, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corp. 'The Countrymen Programme' Aimed at reducing recidivism of known perpetrators
23. Kapululangu Aboriginal Women's Association - Aboriginal Corporation (Kimberly) 'Strong Culture, Strong Families'
24. Tiwi Health Pty Ltd (Tiwi Islands NT) Tiwi Family Violence Prevention Project
25. Mee Wee Community Coalition Inc (Stirling SA) To Reduce and Prevent domestic Violence in indigenous Communities and their Families with emphasis on Aboriginal cultural alternatives and prioritising the safety and security of Women
26. Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited (Melbourne) 'Hear Me Now'
27. Weena Mooga Gu Gudba Inc. (Ceduna SA) Kunta Wia - No Shame
28. Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation (Heywood VIC) Prevent Domestic Violence Programme
29. Yawarra Meamei sponsored by Namoi House Inc. (Lightning Ridge NSW) Yawarra Meamei - Safe Families Project
30. Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation (Perth) Booklets on Family Violence and Indigenous Men's Psychological Health

For more information on the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence programme, visit www.dpmc.gov.au

See also www.australia.org.nz

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