Domestic violence response team bolstered, new hub under state’s $96.4 million funding package

The inter-agency domestic violence response team will operate year-round and a new One Stop Hub will be established for victims as part of a $96.4 million state government commitment to tackle the scourge of family violence.

Premier Roger Cook and Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton are set to unveil the funding package on Friday, which will form part of the 2024-25 state budget.

WA Premier Roger Cook and Minister Sabine Winton will announce the new $96.4 million package on Friday.Credit: Hamish Hastie

The lion’s share of the funding, just shy of $54 million, will be spent bolstering the Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams, a decade-long partnership between the Department of Communities, WA Police and non-government domestic violence services.

Under the plan, the teams will operate seven days per week, including public holidays, and an additional 17 community corrections officers will be deployed within the next three years.

A further $14.2 million will be spent setting up a new Family and Domestic Violence One Stop Hub at the new RUAH Centre for Women and Children in Northbridge.

Some $6 million will fund a dedicated organisation to educate workforces, while $4 million will be spent expanding two rapid rehousing programs and delivering emergency accommodation in the Goldfields.

Live-in men’s behaviour change program ‘Breathing Space’ will receive $4.5 million.

The Department of Justice will get $3.2 million to provide victim support at Prisoners Review Board meetings, with a further $3.1 million to boost existing counselling and advocacy services.

The remaining funds will be used to establish a lived experience advisory group to inform policy and support work on a Central Information Point to inform domestic violence risk assessment.

The funding allocation was informed by the System Reform Plan of the Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce, which was formed just weeks after a spate of domestic violence-related murders in WA sparked crisis talks.

Cook said the collaborative taskforce had provided a strong framework for investment in what was a critical area and that everyone deserved to feel safe in their home.

Winton echoed those sentiments, insisting all violence was completely unacceptable — no matter the form.

“The Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce has developed a clear systems reform plan to improve the way agencies and organisations work together to respond to family and domestic violence,” she said.

“Through this shared approach, we will have the best opportunity to make the biggest difference to the safety and wellbeing of victim-survivors and hold perpetrators to account.

“We all have a role to play in preventing family and domestic violence, and the Cook Government will continue to do its best to address this serious issue.”

The funding package comes after domestic violence incidents in WA reached a record high last year, with instances of family and domestic violence climbing almost 40 per cent in the past five years.

There were 29,273 family-related assaults in 2023, representing an 11 per cent increase.

WA Police also reported almost 15,200 violence restraining order breaches, up almost 20 per cent on the previous year.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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