Early childhood investment is part of family violence reform in NSW

The New South Wales Government has announced a comprehensive approach to domestic and family violence which includes funding for prevention, early intervention, crisis and legal responses.

The significant investment was outlined in the recently announced 2024/25 Budget, and has been described as a major step in supporting those who are escaping domestic and family violence situations.

More than $8 million has been put aside for the ‘All In’ early childhood pilot to prevent domestic violence by teaching young children about healthy relationships.

Housing is central to the investments outlined, with more than $5 billion made available in the Budget to build safe, accessible and affordable housing, with at least half of the new homes built to be prioritised for victim-survivors of family and domestic violence.

The NSW Government will invest $245.6 million as part of an emergency package to enhance support for domestic and family violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children. This includes:Crisis response

$48 million to roll out the Staying Home Leaving Violence program statewide and expand the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service.

Early intervention

$48.1 million to secure and increase funding for workers who support children accompanying their mothers to refuges. These specialist workers support them, including with education and mental health measures.
An additional $700,000 in 2024-25 for the NSW Domestic Violence Line.

Primary prevention

$38.3 million for the implementation of NSW's first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy. The Pathways to Prevention: NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024-2027 will develop a range of initiatives to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence.
$8.1 million for the ‘All in’ early childhood pilot to prevent domestic violence by teaching young children about healthy relationships.
$10 million to expand Men’s Behaviour Change Programs to enable men to recognise their violent behaviour and develop strategies to prevent the use of violence.

Strengthening the sector

$5 million for workforce training on the implementation of a newly developed risk assessment framework and other priority areas.
$3.6 million to expand Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW), which is the peak body for specialist services in NSW.

Improving the justice system for victims

$45 million has been set aside to improve bail laws and justice system responses to domestic violence.
$24.1 million for the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS) to meet the increasing demand of victim survivors requiring support to navigate the justice system.
$5.5 million in 2024-25 to expand the WDVCAS hearing support and Police co-location pilot programs.
$2.1 million to support the Domestic Violence Death Review Team and its work to deliver robust research around risks factors, trends and impact of service delivery.
$2.1 million over 2 years to improve and continue the Corrective Services program EQUIPS Domestic and Family Violence, delivered to offenders in custody and under supervision in the community to prevent reoffending.

Research

$5 million for research into perpetrators and effective interventions.

“Too many lives have been lost and too many families have been broken because of domestic and family violence. It is a blight in our communities and it is a problem that deserves the NSW Government’s concerned attention and response,” a government spokesperson said.

“This Budget is an important step in the NSW Government’s work to provide appropriate, ongoing and all-encompassing wraparound support for victim-survivors, and to ensure that anyone leaving an abusive relationship has a pathway to safety and recovery.”