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In the 2024/25 Budget, the NSW Government committed to provide an additional $245.6 million over four years as part of an emergency package to enhance support for domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children.
Details of the measures included can be found here.
Funding was provided to expand key programs including:
The Specialist Workers for Children and Young People (SWCYP) program aims to break the cycle of disadvantage and improve client outcomes for children and young people under 18 years of age who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and have been impacted by domestic and family violence (DFV).
An evaluation of the program’s first 12 months of operation (2022/23) found the program is achieving positive outcomes for children and young people and recommended the continuation and expansion of the program to other women’s refuges across NSW.
Under the emergency package funding, $48.1 million was allocated to extend the SWCYP program until 30 June 2026 and expand to 10 new services. This enhancement means children and young people accompanying their mother in over 32 refuges across regional and metro NSW will have access to support from more than 55 specialist workers.
On Friday 27 September 2024, a media announcement was released about the extension and expansion of the SWCYP program. This included a news article featuring an interview with an SWCYP worker, and a Ministerial release from Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison.
Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) is an important program that helps women and their children to remain safe in their homes, or home of their choice, after leaving a violent relationship. In 2022, an independent evaluation by the Gendered Violence Research Network at the University of NSW found this program effectively contributes to the long-term safety and housing stability of women and children who have left a violent and abusive relationship.
The program covers 91 Local Government Areas. This new funding will be used to extend the program to the remaining 37 Local Government Areas, providing state-wide coverage by May 2025.
Key milestones:
Funding for new LGAs has been based on analysis of the demand for Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) services. Rural and remote areas will receive higher funding allocations to account for the higher cost of service delivery. We recognise the importance of resourcing our regional, rural, and remote locations with adequate funding to deliver these important services well.
Procurement opportunities were released on Tuesday 8 October 2024 and close 3.00pm Monday 4 November 2024 through the NSW e-tendering website. It is expected that SHLV contracts will be awarded by March 2025 and services will commence soon after.
More information can be found on the NSW Government e-tendering website
There are 11 existing Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services (IDFVS) across NSW delivering critical integrated and holistic services for families experiencing DFV.
IDFVS provides important case management helping people to navigate the services of government agencies and non-government organisations. This can include coordinating across police, courts, healthcare, child protection workers, housing providers and women’s refuges. The program works with both victim-survivors who have left a relationship and those who remain, focusing on maximising safety for this group of women and their children, and addressing behaviour of the person using violence.
Core to the response is an integrated whole of family case management approach, which can involve working with a victim-survivor, children and person using violence.
A further 6 services will be funded through the DFV Emergency funding package stream. The services will be located in areas with the highest need, determined by demand, prevalence and service gaps. Procurement opportunities for IDFVS services will be released in February 2025 with contracts awarded in June 2025 and services will commence soon after.
More information can be found on the NSW Government e-tendering website.
Aboriginal women and children experience DFV at higher rates than non-Aboriginal women and children. NSW Government is committed to addressing the needs of Aboriginal Women and children experiencing DFV and know that this best done through the provision of Aboriginal led services.
A proportion of funding has been allocated to the development and co-design of Aboriginal led service models of DFV in key locations. This process builds on the success and experience from the partnership with the Bourke community, led by the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly.
We will see more of these excellent examples of co-designed services in three more areas across NSW. More information will be provided about these locations and the co-design approach as the programs progress.
Where there are Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and/or Aboriginal services with capacity and interest to deliver the IDFVS and SHLV service models, our procurement approaches will be tailored to support Aboriginal services to apply for funding in these areas.
An Industry Briefing that outlined the SHLV Program and Procurement overview was held on Wednesday 9 October 2024 at 11am by MS Teams. A copy of the recording and presentation can be found at the following link.
SHLV Industry Briefing recording and SHLV Industry Briefing presentation (PDF, 558.8 KB)– 09 October 2024
For an accessible version, please email PACT@dcj.nsw.gov.au
DCJ were invited to discuss the IDFVS and SHLV expansion plans at a DVNSW led forum held 10 September 2024. A copy of the presentation, which includes Local Government Area coverage, can be found at the following link.
DVNSW presentation SHLV and IDFVS expansion – 10 September 2024 (PDF, 1.8 MB)
For an accessible version, please email PACT@dcj.nsw.gov.au
22 Oct 2024