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New funding to support communities affected by domestic and family violence image

New funding to support communities affected by domestic and family violence

News

Nearly 60 organisations across Australia working with key groups affected by domestic and family violence (DFV) will receive funding to expand their reach, and boost the level of support available through specialist programs to counter violence.

The Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF), in partnership with the Australian Communities Foundation (ACF), have announced a total of $13.6 million in grant funding to 58 organisations including those working with First Nations women and communities, children, migrant and refugee women, rural and remote communities, pregnant women, LGBTIQA+ communities, single mothers, women with a disability, and perpetrators and users of violence. Twenty-seven of the 58 organisations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led programs across each state and territory of Australia, which speaks to a significant investment in First Nations self-determined
approaches to DFV.

Each of the organisations will receive a one-off grant of up to $250,000 to support the delivery of their specialist DFV programs, helping to build their capacity. Since 2017, PRF has granted more than $38 million to organisations improving the safety of women and children experiencing DFV.

PRF’s Head of Cohorts Jackie Ruddock said the grants were an opportunity to ease the extraordinary financial pressures facing DFV organisations, while also developing a stronger and better-connected sector.

“We hope these grants will alleviate some of the financial burden facing these community organisations, while supporting them to both continue and expand their specialist DFV programs,” Ms Ruddock said.

“Domestic and family violence remains a complex and unending issue in Australia. The statistics are grim, and while DFV exists at all levels of our society we know the need is higher in the specific community cohorts which these grants seek to target.”

The grant recipients will also form a new network of specialist organisations with expertise in the prevention and mitigation of violence for key communities. PRF will consult with this network of partners to share insights and learnings, build relationships, and inform its future work to help tackle DFV in Australia. Leading the networking is ResearchCrowd and Innovation Unit, two specialist research and delivery partners with extensive experience working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and the DFV and NFP sectors.

“We hope that building this national network of specialist organisations will strengthen the sector and its ability to tackle domestic and family violence through sharing experiences and information,” Ms Ruddock said.

ACF’s Director of Philanthropic Services Georgia Mathews said the recipients represented a wide range of communities and geographic areas.

“We look forward to working with these organisations and distributing the funds to help support their critical services,” she said.