Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams announced $95,000 in funding for Rainbow Health Australia to develop a vital family violence prevention training program.
Rainbow Health Australia is based at the Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe. Rainbow Health Director Marina Carman said the funding would address critical gaps in LGBTIQ family violence prevention.
“This new funding will boost our ability to deliver our ground-breaking program aimed at the prevention of family violence experienced by LGBTIQ communities,” she said.
“This support is even more important now, given we know that the current stress and isolation related to COVID-19 can worsen family violence for everyone. This project helps us learn how to address the causes of family violence and stop it before it starts.”
The program is in addition to the $600,000 LGBTIQ Family Violence Primary Prevention Project, which is a two-year project run by Rainbow Health Australia, aimed at addressing gaps in LGBTIQ family violence prevention.
Also launched on July 1 was Rainbow Health Australia’s Pride in Prevention: A guide to primary prevention of family violence experienced by LGBTIQ communities.
The guide will be used to help practitioners and policy makers further develop programs and activities to address family violence experienced by people from LGBTIQ communities.
The new guide breaks down national and international evidence on the prevalence, nature and drivers of family violence experienced by people from LGBTIQ communities and identifies priority actions.
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams said the guide was ground breaking.
“This new guide will help build critical evidence and strengthen sector capacity to understand what works to address family violence against people from LGBTIQ communities.
“LGBTIQ Victorians need responsive and inclusive family violence services and, despite our progress, we know they still experience stigma and marginalisation – that’s why programs like this are so important,” Minister Williams said.
Media Contact: Kathryn Powley | k.powley@latrobe.edu.au | 9479 3491 | 0456 764 371
