Multicultural groups win funding to counter domestic violence

Tuesday, 4 July 2023

Multicultural groups from across NSW will receive a share of a one-off $2 million grant to deliver activities or projects that will build the capability of their communities to recognise and respond to domestic, family and sexual violence.

The 19 successful groups were part of a competitive grant process funded under the National Partnership Agreement which opened earlier this year. These included Focus Connect for its Safer Multicultural Families initiative to build the capability of multicultural communities in recognising the responding to domestic violence, and Canterbury City Community Centre for its Healthy Relationships Program supporting newly arrived migrant communities and refugee and asylum seekers.

Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said empowering local community groups across a diverse landscape was critical to addressing domestic and sexual abuse at it roots.

“We know that domestic and family violence can affect anyone from any social, religious or cultural background,” Minister Rishworth said.

“Supporting local groups who are already doing grassroots work to reduce the prevalence of family and domestic violence and sexual abuse in their communities is an important step in solidifying our approach to end this abhorrent crime.”

NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said the grants will foster collaboration and innovation to assist multicultural and faith-led organisations to support culturally appropriate responses to domestic, family and sexual violence.

“This investment will help build the capability of multicultural communities in recognising and responding to domestic, family and sexual violence,” Minister Harrison said.

“Domestic and family violence leaves deep scars that affect everybody involved, in particular for women and children.”

Separately, the NSW Government has signed up to deliver additional frontline family and domestic violence workers as part of the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment for more on-the-ground support for victim-survivors.

Funding for the additional 148 workers will be provided under the National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2021-27.

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said it was important to provide multicultural groups with the tools they need to respond to domestic and family violence.

“These initiatives will be the bridge that connects individuals from multicultural communities with organisations that can provide help when they need it,” Minister Kamper said.

“We know from experience that a one-size-fits all approach does not work and that culturally appropriate tools and resources make a real difference in many communities.”

Focus Connect, Interim CEO Lee-Ann Byrnes thanked the NSW Government for the grant. “Survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence require holistic support to help them recover and rebuild their lives,” Ms Byrnes said. 

“This funding allows a trained caseworker to work one-on-one with survivors to identify needs and goals and provide wrap around assistance so these can be met and achieved.”

Canterbury City Community Centre CEO Esta Paschalidis-Chilas said: “We have been working alongside the very diverse local community for over 50 years, so we know that the issues surrounding Domestic Family and Sexual Violence are not well understood nor are the right resources and supports always available. Our Healthy Relationship Program will be designed and implemented in partnership with the Australian Rohingya Women’s Development Organisation and the Paki Women’s Hub. The program allows us, our partners and collaborators, the opportunity to do the language and culturally specific work needed to uplift the understanding of these communities.”

For more information on the multicultural DV grant and its recipients, please go to https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/service-providers/grants/domestic-family-sexual-violence-multicultural-community-grant.html.