Aust steps up battle on indigenous family violence

Australian and NT Governments step up the battle against indigenous family violence

Helping Indigenous communities stamp out family violence and take better care of children is a key focus of three new projects jointly funded by the Australian and Northern Territory Governments.

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson said the Governments have jointly provided up to $3.2 million for the three new projects to tackle family violence and abuse in Indigenous communities. The projects include:

• Interventions for Children, which will develop and deliver therapeutic interventions for children exposed to family violence and train workers in women's shelters, teachers and other service providers assisting children. The Australian Government is providing $200,000 during the next three years while the NT Government will provide $100,000.
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• Jiban gudbalawei (Peace At Home) which will establish a new integrated Police and Community Services centre addressing family violence and child abuse in the Katherine and Borroloola region. The NT Government will provide $1.7 million in kind over three years to this project while the Australian Government will contribute $1 million.
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• Empowering Indigenous Communities, which will pilot a method to monitor and respond to changing levels of local violence in six remote communities. The Australian Government has committed $60,000 over three years to the project while the NT Government will provide $100,000.
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Senator Patterson said: "The Howard Government welcomes the support of the NT Government for our whole of Government approach to Indigenous affairs which involves governments at all levels working in partnership with Indigenous people to address disadvantage and social problems.

"Our work together with Indigenous communities has allowed us to develop practical projects to help address serious problems such as family violence and child abuse.

"I commend the NT Government's ongoing commitment to reducing and preventing family violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities and I look forward to both governments continuing to work together, " Senator Patterson said.

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