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Wellington, May 9, 2018
Social services dealing most directly with the harm caused by family violence will get much-needed support as the Government boosts funding to frontline agencies for the first time in ten years.
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni said that nearly half of those receiving the increase are women’s refuges who provide vital support keeping women and children safe.
The nearly 30% increase in funding is critical to the Government’s efforts to turn around New Zealand’s tragic family violence record.
Additional funding in 2019-2020 will enable these critical frontline agencies to expand into areas where there isn’t currently any support, and start addressing rising demand for existing services.
Damaging and hidden
“Family violence has a damaging, yet often hidden, impact on victims’ lives, including their ability to work and lead a normal life.
Through Budget 2018, the Government is allocating an additional $76.157 million over four years to support the delivery of Ministry of Social Development-funded family violence services for victims, perpetrators and their families.
This funding will provide a boost to around 150 providers of family violence services nationwide,” Ms Sepuloni said.
Funding receives welcome
Jan Logie, Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice on Domestic and Sexual Violence Issues also welcomes the new funding.
“This funding is an important first step, supporting organisations that do vital work but have been stretched to breaking point. As we start the broader work of challenging and responding to family and sexual violence, it’s crucial that victims and their families can to get the support they need now. They can’t wait,” she said.
Shifting focus
Ms Sepuloni said that there is a need to shift the focus of family violence funding
Minister for Children Tracey Martin said Budget 2018 funding would have an impact right across New Zealand.
“The announcement delivers on the Coalition Agreement between Labour and New Zealand First to increase funding in this area,” she Tracey Martin said.
Background Facts:
Allocating additional funding received through Budget 2018 ($ million)
| 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 and out years | TOTAL | ||
| Total new funding for family violence services | 1. Stabilising current services | 6.590 | 6.590 | 21.969 | 21.969 | 72.497 |
| 2. Filling gaps in service delivery | – | 15.379 | ||||
| Funding for service development, co-design and evaluation | 0.940 | 1.160 | 1.340 | 0.220 | 3.660 | |
| Total | 7.530 | 23.129 | 23.309 | 22.189 | 76.157 | |
Approximately 150 existing MSD-funded family violence service providers will receive an increase in funding.
Services that most directly respond to the needs of victims, perpetrators and their families will get extra funding in 2018/19 and 2019/20. These are:
Family and whanau services, including longer-term recovery, counselling and safety planning
Programmes for self-referred, non-mandated perpetrators of family violence
Immediate crisis response and support services for victims of family violence (and their children, where present), and Longer-term psychological recovery services for victims.
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Photo Caption:
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni
(File Picture)
