Tuesday, 3 March 2026

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (12:10): I rise to update the house on a significant new investment in family violence services announced by our government in partnership with the Albanese Labor government. Governments at all levels must work together if we are going to achieve our goal to end family, domestic and sexual violence, and that is why we are very pleased to have a strong partner in Canberra. On 20 February, alongside the Commonwealth Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek, I announced the next stage of our partnership under the federation funding agreement to respond to family, domestic and sexual violence. As part of this agreement Victoria will receive over $89 million of Commonwealth funding over five years, which this government will match dollar for dollar. This funding will deliver critical programs and services to victim-survivors, including children and young people, who too often carry the impact of family violence into their adult lives. We know there are fewer options for young people seeking help on their own without a safe parent to support them. That is why three more years of funding will be provided to the Amplify program, delivered by Melbourne City Mission, and the Aspire program, delivered by Meli, under this new agreement. Both programs address this gap by providing specialist youth-specific support to unaccompanied young people who are experiencing or who are at risk of homelessness due to family violence. But it is not just about responding after harm has occurred. This new agreement also supports investment in prevention and early intervention programs to help stop violence before it happens.