Empowering victim-survivors and targeting perpetrators of gender-based violence

2024–25 May Budget

The Australian Government is investing $925.2 million over five years to establish the Leaving Violence Program as a permanent and ongoing financial support program for victim-survivors leaving a violent intimate partner relationship. In addition, the Government will provide $6.1 million for a specialised visa support service for temporary visa holders experiencing domestic and family violence within the Department of Home Affairs, the Domestic and Family Violence Service (DFVS).

The Government is taking additional steps in this year’s Budget to increase focus on, and learn more about perpetrators of family, domestic and sexual violence.

Leaving Violence Program

This Budget measure will provide people leaving intimate partner violence with individualised financial support packages including short-term referral services, risk assessments and safety planning to help leave violent relationships and build better lives.

The program will provide up to $5,000 in financial support for the victim-survivor, in the form of up to $1,500 in cash (or cash equivalent) and the rest as a pre-paid card for goods and services.

It is estimated the Leaving Violence Program will support over 36,000 victim-survivors each year.

Statistics on Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence is a problem of epidemic proportions in Australia, with a quarter of all Australian women having experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

In 2022-23, 16 per cent of homicide incidents were intimate partner homicides and 89 per cent of these were perpetrated against a female victim aged 18 years and over.*

Intimate partner homicides perpetrated against a female increased by 28 per cent, from 0.25 homicides per 100,000 in 2021-22, to 0.32 per 100,000 in 2022-23.*

* Data Source: Australia Institute of Criminology latest findings from the National Homicide Monitoring Program.

Domestic Family Violence Services Program

The Government will provide ongoing funding for a specialised visa support service for temporary visa holders experiencing domestic and family violence within the Department of Home Affairs, the Domestic and Family Violence Service (DFVS).

DFVS assists domestic and family violence victim-survivors to regularise their visa status within the migration law framework, including through complex case management, and is a centralised point of contact in the Department of Home Affairs for victim-survivor support services to liaise and raise issues with.

Establishment of an Expert-Led Rapid Review

An Expert group to lead a rapid review will be established to consider and advise Government on additional efforts to prevent and end the cycle of violence, with a particular focus on practical steps to engage men as allies to address all forms of family, domestic and sexual violence.

Greater investment in Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety

ANROWS was established under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments of Australia to build the evidence base that supports ending violence against women and children in Australia.

As part of this measure, the Government is investing $4 million in ANROWS to rapidly review the evidence base on risk factors for family, domestic and sexual violence perpetration and key intervention points.

These new measures help support the aims of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 to end violence in one generation.

More information

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au(Opens in a new tab/window), or text 0458 737 732.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au(Opens in a new tab/window)

Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information about these measures and other Department of Social Services’ Budget measures, visit the Department of Social Services website (dss.gov.au).

For information about the 2024-25 May Budget, visit the Australian Government Budget(Opens in a new tab/window) website (budget.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window)).