More funding needed for family violence support

COMMUNITY legal services are calling for more funding, as the rate of family violence across the state continues to rise.

According to the Crime Statistics Agency, reports of family violence have increased six per cent in the past financial year, and with the rate of family violence in regional Victoria occurring at almost double the rate of that in metro Melbourne, the Barwon region also has also recorded a concerning rise.

The most significant increase has been recorded in the Colac Otway Shire, with family violence reports rising by 25 per cent. For local operations such as Barwon Community Legal Service, which serves the Geelong, Bellarine, Surf Coast and Colac Otway regions, demand has also increased for free legal aid, stretching resources and the funding available, beyond capacity.

Three in four of Barwon Community Legal Service’s clients are women, 60 per cent of those clients have or are experiencing family violence, and 60 per cent of its total clientele are facing financial hardship.

Meanwhile, the organisation’s partnership with Orange Door is at capacity, and a more than 12 per cent increase has been recorded in referrals this financial year, compared to the previous year.

“We know that victim-survivors are 10 times more likely to experience a legal problem compared to the general population and that definitely rings true within our experience of the legal service,” community development manager Alexandria Jones said.

“When they come to our door, it’s not just the immediate safety that we’re helping with, it’s a whole host of other civil law issues as well.”

The Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria, the sector’s peak body, estimates an additional $2.8 million in funding is required annually to support core family violence services across the state.

The body says a further $2.7 million is also needed to ensure community legal services can support their clients in court, while a further $1.4 million is needed to deliver pre-court engagement services. Without this funding, Ms Jones said more clients were at risk of being turned away.

“It will have a big impact on safety; people need legal help to be safe.

“Access to justice and access to lawyers…it’s something that all people, no matter where you live, should have access to.”

Federation chief executive Louisa Gibbs said those who do miss out on community legal support often have nowhere else to go.

“That can mean returning to unsafe and dangerous family situations and further abuse. “Demand for family violence legal services is rising sharply and community legal centres are responding to this evolving legal need accordingly, but their impact is stifled by funding limitations.

“Our families in regional Victoria must be able to access services that keep them safe.”