Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Escaping Violence Payment: New Darwin program funded

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Darwin who are fleeing domestically violent relationships can soon access up to $1500 cash and $3500 worth of goods and services from Indigenous-led organisations.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Darwin who are fleeing DV can now access funds and goods and services after a pilot scheme expanded.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Darwin who are fleeing domestically violent relationships can soon access up to $1500 cash and $3500 worth of goods and services from Indigenous-led organisations after a pilot scheme was expanded to the Northern Territory’s capital.

Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth announced on Saturday that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Escaping Violence Payment place-based trial would be extended to Darwin and Broome.

The payments were first pioneered in Cairns, and have also been recently expanded to Dubbo.

The two-year, $31.6m commitment will see First Nations women in Darwin, Broome and Dubbo who are victims of domestic violence able to apply to receive up to $1500 cash and $3500 worth of goods and services, such as removalist, bonds and household basics.

Unlike the existing Escaping Violence Payment, which continues to be available to eligible women, including non-Aboriginal women, Australia-wide online via community services provider Uniting, organisations within the four trial areas of the First Nations program will be able to apply to receive funding to administer to women.

The government hopes that by funding local organisations to offer the funding in a “culturally appropriate way,” it will increase its uptake by First Nations women.

Organisations will be selected via a competitive process “in the coming months”.

Ms Rishworth said the payments will support target 13 of Closing the Gap, reducing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family violence by at least 50 per cent by 2031.

“We know that there are unique challenges and additional barriers faced by First Nations peoples seeking support for family, domestic and sexual violence, particularly within regional, rural, and remote communities,” Ms Rishworth said.

“These place-based trials see an important partnership between the Government and First Nations-led organisations to support approaches to service delivery that truly meet the needs of local communities.”