Page 854 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 March 2016
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I should also mention that, in relation to the national campaign, it is an initiative that came out of one of the earlier meetings of the Council of Australian Governments last year with a $30 million commitment from the federal government and, with all state and territory governments, the ACT government is willing to be a contributor to this initiative.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Minister, what action is the government taking to ensure a comprehensive service response?
MS BERRY: The ACT government is committed to ending domestic violence and ensuring that we have the best practices and services in place to protect people experiencing violence when it occurs. As part of the ACT government’s determined effort to ensure that we have the best possible services to be placed that support women and children who have experienced domestic violence, a gap analysis has been undertaken that will review our response from early intervention through to crisis and on to post-crisis support. The gap analysis final report is expected later this month and will make recommendations that, once implemented, will bridge the gap between the current service system and the desired service system. Key research and best practice models of integrated domestic violence service delivery at both the national and international levels have informed the gap analysis work.
I can report that the first part of the work on the gap analysis involved a literature review, which was completed in October 2015. Members may be interested to know that this work identified key features necessary for any effective integrated service response, including risk assessment, information sharing mechanisms, clear government structures and strong leadership at the highest levels.
The gap analysis will continue to contribute to the body of knowledge about the needs and experiences of women and children who have experienced violence in the ACT. Additional information that will contribute to this will include the findings of the ACT death review, which reviewed domestic violence deaths in the ACT.
As members can see, the ACT government is committed to improving our understanding of the impacts of domestic violence in our community as well as to gaining a better understanding of and appreciation for the service systems that have worked well in responding both nationally and internationally.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hinder.
MR HINDER: Minister, what is the government doing to encourage innovative approaches to addressing diverse experiences of violence?
MS BERRY: The ACT government recognises the need to ensure appropriate pathways to access support that are available to address diverse experience of violence. Under the 2015-16 ACT women’s safety grants program, for instance, seven of the 12 projects funded were in the diverse experience of violence category. The
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