New Family Violence Early Intervention Service for NT Rural and Remote Communities

Federal Minister for Community Services, Larry Anthony, and Northern Territory Minister for Health, Family and Community Services, Stephen Dunham, today announced $46,000 in funding over for two years for a domestic and family violence early intervention service specifically targeted at rural and remote communities.

The service will target young women from rural and remote communities in the Northern Territory. It will give them access to an educative early intervention program aimed at raising awareness about issues of domestic and family violence.

“Domestic and family violence attacks the very core of family life, with tragic effects, especially on children. The physical, emotional and financial costs to the community and workplaces are devastating,” Mr Anthony said.

“The Government is aware that rural and isolated communities often have greater difficulty in accessing Government services and this initiative helps to meet the needs of people in rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory.”

This funding is part of the Coalition Government’s $50 million Partnerships Against Domestic Violence initiative, a collaboration with the States and Territories which aims to find better ways of addressing and preventing domestic violence across Australia.

Mr Dunham said he was pleased that the Early Intervention Educative Service would be able to offer an important and valuable service to young women in rural and remote areas.

“This new service will focus on educating young women in rural and remote communities about issues of domestic and family violence and sexual assault.”

Funding for this new service has come through the jointly funded Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) which provides support and accommodation to homeless people and women and children escaping domestic violence and assists them to move back into the community.