The state's third five-year family and sexual violence action plan, titled Survivors at the Centre, was developed by the voices and stories of victim-survivors, government minister Jo Palmer says.
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The $100 million action plan was unveiled on Friday, and with it, a new set of initiatives, including two new multidisciplinary centres tailored to cater for victim-survivor needs.
The centres will feature sexual assault support services, child safety officers, family violence counselling support services and witness intermediaries.
Other initiatives include:
- the use of next generation technology and instruments to increase capacity for the storage of evidence, including sexual evidence kits;
- the establishment of a family and sexual violence liasion service within the Tasmanian Health Service to provide statewide support for clients;
- provision of increased core funding to Tasmanias specialist family and sexual violence counselling services with five-year contracts;
- and an investigation on the need to establish a peak family and sexual violence peak body in Tasmania.
Family Violence Prevention Minister Jo Palmer (pictured) said the plan had been shaped by victim-survivors over a long consultation process, which had started in February and would continue into February next year.
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"We want it to keep evolving and we want to keep hearing the stories of victim-survivors," she said.
Ms Palmer said as of last month, 690 victim-survivors had provided input into the plan. Labor's family violence prevention spokeswoman Michelle O'Byrne said increased rates of sexual assaults indicated government actions so far had not materially made Tasmanian women safer.
"Those leaving violent situations face significant delays in accessing safe housing and there are long waiting lists for women's shelters and services, which are already at capacity," she said.
"So it is vital that more funding is allocated, not only for preventative measures, but also to provide an adequate response for those fleeing family violence."
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
