New national Australian foundation to prevent violence against women and girls

A new national Australian foundation is being launched today to prevent violence against women and girls. It will undertake prevention and early intervention programmes through schools, communities and the media, host forums and conferences, and run targeted media and social-media campaigns. It is the first nationalised centralised campaign for domestic violence prevention and education.

The Victorian and federal governments have contributed about $9.5 million to start up the foundation and pay its operating costs until 2017. Victorian Community Services Minister Marty Wooldridge said the foundation would build partnerships with business, philanthropic organisations and government as well as seek community support.

Fiona McCormack from Domestic Violence Victoria called for other states and territories to commit funding to the foundation. She also said it will be important its prevention and education work reaches women in rural areas, "Because of the lack of resources, because of the tyranny of distances for women getting support, because of isolation - keeping women isolated can be a key feature of the type of violence that women in rural areas can experience."

'Laying a safe foundation for women and children', The Canberra Times, 5.08.2013

'Regional focus for new domestic violence foundation', ABC News, 29.07.2013

'Foundation being created to help protect women and kids from violence', news.com.au, 25.07.2013