The Victorian Government is working with multicultural and faith communities to promote equal, respectful relationships and stop family violence before it starts.

Member for Clarinda, Meng Heang Tak announced $260,000 for South East Community Links today as part of the Supporting Multicultural and Faith Communities to Prevent Family Violence: 2021 Grant Program.

South East Community Links is one of 33 organisations across the state to share nearly $7 million of funding under the grants program, which invests in organisations to lead family violence prevention in innovative and culturally appropriate ways.

The investment will help South East Community Links in Springvale to lead its own prevention work and create long term change in preventing family violence and all forms of violence against women through its project Towards Gender Equality and Safer Families.

The grants are designed to build the capacity of community, faith and cultural organisations to deliver prevention programs and support organisations with existing experience to continue and expand successful work.

At least 27 cultural and five faith groups will be supported through the program with projects focused on community awareness workshops and programs, online engagement, peer education, and connecting communities with specialist services being funded.

These programs are part of a broader effort to deliver prevention initiatives in the spaces where Victorians live, work and learn to maximise access and relevance to communities.

Last month, the Labor Government announced an additional $1.5 million to expand five innovative prevention programs including a respectful relationships play group and a support program for new parents in rural Victoria.

Victoria is leading the country in its work to combat family violence with $3 billion — more than every other state combined, and more than the commonwealth– invested in prevention and response initiatives to date.

All grant recipients can be found here: https://www.vic.gov.au/dffh/prevent-family-violence-2021-grant-program.

Quotes attributable to Meng Heang Tak

“We know family violence happens right across Victoria – and I am proud that our Government is investing in South East Community Links to provide this important project for Clarinda District residents.”

“These grants will help stop family violence before it starts in Clarinda and create a safer place to live for everyone – regardless of their culture or faith.”