Law reforms to improve women’s safety

LAWS around women’s safety in Victoria are set to be reformed.

Last week, Premier Jacinta Allan announced legislation will change aiming to better support victim survivors of violence against women.

It’s also the goal of State Government staffers to create cultural change and hold offenders to account, at a time when domestic and family violence is more prevalent than ever, and women feel unsafe in their own communities.

“When women are still dying at the hands of men, we must do more,” said Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan.

“From prevention to response to justice, these reforms will target family violence at every stage.”

Under the law reforms, it’s expected Family Violence Intervention Orders will be put in place sooner, and for a longer minimum time period.

“The government will work with Victoria Police and the courts on a proposal to give police the power to issue longer family violence safety notices,” a statement from the Premier’s office said.

“We’ll also change the stalking offence as informed by the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s Stalking Report and we will deliver improvements to Personal Safety Intervention Orders, with legislative changes to be introduced into the parliament in 2025.

“We’ll seek advice from the Judicial College and Sentencing Advisory Council regarding guidance for magistrates on sentencing for breaches of FVIOs to ensure they are responding to community expectations.”

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the changes are about “the needs of victims and…community expectations.”

Keeping perpetrators in view and holding them accountable, with better long-term case management and behaviour programs, is a goal of government staffers.

Better home security, including alarms, locks, and screens, will be available to victim survivors of violence as part of the Personal Safety Initiative.

McAuley Community Services for Women’s wrap-around project to prevent homelessness, Safe at Home, is being supported by the State Government financially.

“Where women can’t stay safely in the home, we’ll work with the community housing sector to draw funding under the Commonwealth’s $1 billion National Housing Infrastructure Facility, for crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing family violence, including more core and cluster models,” the statement from the Premier’s office said.

“We’ll also improve and upgrade the Central Information Point, an Australian-first that consolidates information about a perpetrator of family violence into a single report, making the system easier and faster to use, so our hardworking family violence workers can get the information they need sooner.”

A Justice Navigator pilot program will aim to help women and children recover, and gain legal assistance after an assault.

“It will also deliver…a boost in targeted legal services for victim survivors from communities who face additional barriers, like multicultural and First Nations families,” the statement said.

In the prevention space, a Respectful Relationships curriculum about healthy partnerships will continue to run in state and some non-government schools for varying age groups.

More professional learning opportunities are to be given to teachers to deliver that.

The Modelling Respect and Equality program, now in 100 schools, is to be taught to more boys and young men in 240 additional schools to combat toxic masculinity, and new learning tools for youth and parents will aim to educate young people about issues like coercive control, online safety, hate speech and pornography.

A new Respect Victoria advertising campaign is expected at the end of the year.

“This package means hitting fast-forward on the action we need now, as well as sowing the seeds on the long-term cultural shift we need to end violence for good,” said Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Vicki Ward.

Identifying and preventing sexual harassment and assaults in hospitality venues will become part of Responsible Service of Alcohol training in Victoria.

A Ministerial Action Working Group is focused on ending violence against women and girls, and a third Rolling Action Plan under the State’s 10-Year Plan for Change is expected later in the year.

The murders of three Ballarat women were allegedly perpetrated by men this year alone.

“Recognising the hurt in the community, we’ll also have something significant to announce for Ballarat soon,” the statement from the Premier’s office said.

Recently, Women’s Health Grampians CEO Marianne Hendron said people working together makes a difference.

“We work with many organisations across our city who share a vision for building safe, inclusive and respectful communities,” she said.

“This is long-term work, the kind of work that builds a strong foundation for generations to come in whatever sphere of influence an organisation happens to have.

“Change…requires proactive commitment and courage from all of us.”