ATSIC’s family violence strategy

This summary has been adapted from the following media releases: ATSIC, 31 October 2003; Message Stick, ABC, 31 October 2003; and Message Stick, ABC, 3 November 2003

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Philip Ruddock launched ATSIC’s family violence strategy in August 2003. The strategy is part of a long-term commitment by ATSIC to take a lead role to end family violence in Indigenous communities.

At its first full meeting earlier this year, ATSIC’s Board of Commissioners released a Family Violence Policy Statement (view Policy Statement). The Commissioners made a strong and personal commitment to act against the escalating and unacceptable levels of family violence in Indigenous communities; and emphasised the need to support and protect women and children through forums like ATSIC’s National Women’s Issues Committee.

The Board subsequently asked the Social and Physical Wellbeing Committee to develop the Family Violence Action Plan to give effect to the policy. The Family Violence Action Plan (view Action Plan) is supported by more than $18 million in new funding for 2003-04. A portion of the funding has been allocated to strengthen its Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS) (view further information) by employing and training sexual assault workers for each legal service.

A key feature of ATSIC’s new strategy will be the involvement of its 35 regional councils (view further information; view ATSIC regional office websites). A motion of commitment to the ATSIC Board’s Policy Statement and Family Violence Action Plan was passed at a recent meeting of the ATSIC Kamilaroi Regional Council in New South Wales. The Kamilaroi Regional Council recognises the need for regional councils to become personally and actively engaged in addressing the issue of family violence. In Queensland, ATSIC’s Central Queensland Regional Council aims to sit down with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations and representatives, service agencies and key State government departments to hammer out a detailed agreement and plan of action on how the issue and levels of family violence are going to be tackled.

For further information:

• View ATSIC news item – ATSIC family violence strategy (HTML – 28 August 2003)
• View message stick news item – ATSIC family violence strategy (HTML – 3 November 2003)
• View ATSIC news item – Kamilaroi priority (HTML – 31 October 2003)
• View message stick news item – Kamilaroi priority (HTML – 31 October 2003)
• View ATSIC Family Violence Action Plan (PDF – 208KB)
• View ATSIC’s Family Violence Information Kit (PDF – 223KB)
• View ATSIC photo gallery of the strategy launch (HTML)