Urgent Funding Needed Post October Surge in Domestic Violence Deaths
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There have been seven deaths due to violence against women in October alone. Counting Dead Women Australia updated their yearly death toll to forty-three.
These deaths sadly follow the disappointing 2023-24 NSW state budget which failed to fully invest in long-term solutions to domestic violence.
Last month, Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW) petitioned the New South Wales government for a $176.35 million increase to domestic and family violence funding in the state budget. The $39.1 million allocation of new funding fell short of what is necessary to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence across the state.
“It’s hard to quantify the devastating losses people are experiencing due to domestic violence. I can tell you that 43 women in Australia have been killed so far this year,” said Delia Donovan CEO, Domestic Violence NSW.
“I can estimate the $5.1 billion cost of domestic and family violence in Australia each year. But the real loss – of a community member and a family member – is impossible to quantify in words or numbers.”
Next month is a critical time. Governments are preparing their budgets for the coming year.
Preparations are also underway for the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence commencing November 25th. With the NSW budget forecast to return to surplus in 2024-2025, DVNSW is calling on the NSW Government to provide the critically needed funding for domestic and family violence services, as well as a serious injection into primary prevention funding.
Donovan highlighted that what really stood out for her is the presence of children and young people in these violent deaths. Two primary school-aged children were present at Analyn Osias’ death.
“Lilli James was only 21 and murdered at a city high school. Further, two of the deaths involved adults perpetrating against their own mothers. There is an intergenerational ripple effect from violence that will continue to impact young people unless we start taking primary prevention seriously.”
The importance of community-driven prevention initiatives that challenge attitudes condoning violence remains a key priority. This will be especially important as the NSW Government releases its Primary Prevention strategy later this year
“If we want to see a change in the number of people killed – we need to see a change in the number invested by our governments,” added Donovan.
“We need to see commitment and action. These statistics are real people and it will take real investment to support real solutions. These deaths are preventable.”
Donovan said that October has been a heavy reminder that domestic violence does not discriminate.
“It is present in our cities, in our rural communities, in our schools and our homes. It is present between children and parents, husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend. Young and old – no one is immune. But by working together we can save lives”.
Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.
