The Department of Communities is developing a strategy to support Aboriginal family safety and combat domestic violence.
The draft Aboriginal Family Safety Strategy has been released for further public comment following extensive community feedback.
Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, Simone McGurk said
Aboriginal women and children experienced family violence at disproportionately high rates, with Aboriginal women 32 times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to be hospitalised from family violence.
“I am committed to reducing the incidents of family violence by working in partnership with Aboriginal people and empowering communities to drive change,” Ms McGurk said.
“The Strategy acknowledges that family violence is not part of Aboriginal culture and has an aim of ensuring that all Aboriginal people in WA live safe and healthy lives free of family violence, and that we are all part of that solution,” she said.
Ms McGurk was supported by Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Tony Buti who said the Strategy was one part of a whole-of-Government effort to work with Aboriginal people to foster social and economic empowerment.
“Critically, Aboriginal people and organisations have been at the centre of the design process for the Strategy — a key pillar of WA’s Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy,” Dr Buti said.
Feedback on the draft Strategy is open until 14 April.
The 55-page Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link and information on how to have a say at this link.
