Media Release by The Hon Christian Porter MP

Building stronger and safer communities for everyone

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator The Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister for Women

Local communities across Australia will share an extra $1.7 million in funding from the Australian Government to develop community projects to build connections and help reduce violence against women and their children.

Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter, and Minister for Women, Senator The Hon. Michaelia Cash, announced the Building Safe Communities for Women grants today in recognition of National Child Protection Week.

“Each successful project will receive up to $75,000 per year to develop local solutions that meet the individual needs of each community,” Mr Porter said.

“This could include communicating about violence in relationships, raising awareness about the impacts of violence against women, or building community networks to support women experiencing violence.

“Late last year the Coalition Government provided grants to 28 projects across the country, including crisis accommodation, education programmes and prevention initiatives. But it is clear that more is needed–the number of suitable applications for that funding far exceeded the number of grants available.”

Senator Cash said the funding would support an additional 12 projects, which have been selected from existing shortlisted applications.

“We all have a responsibility to act to support women and children experiencing violence–and also to prevent it from happening in the first place,” she said.

“That is why the Coalition Government is working across governments and with the community sector on national, long-term strategies under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, and the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.

“From the local to the national level, we must all play a role in building safer communities.”

The grants uphold the National Child Protection Week theme of ‘Stronger Communities, Safer Children’.

The week is coordinated by the National Association of Prevention for Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), with support from the Government. More information about National Child Protection Week and how local communities can play a role is available at napcan.org.au.