THE Coalition Government will provide up to $2.4 million for a tailored project to address family violence experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children in Cairns and the Cape York region.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and the Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, said the funding formed part of the $25 million Indigenous-focused package under the Third Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.
“I am pleased to announce this support for Mookai Rosie, a local community service with specialist experience in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families,” Mr Entsch said today.
“The funding will enable Mookai Rosie to deliver services to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families impacted by family violence, including trauma-informed therapeutic services for children.
“Mookai Rosie is a fabulous local organisation that I’ve worked closely with since I was first elected to Parliament more than 20 years ago and I was more than happy to support its application for funding to deliver these services.
“There’s no doubt that children who are victims of family violence, whether through witnessing violence against others or experiencing it themselves, suffer a range of physical, emotional and psychological consequences.
“The ability of Mookai Rosie to support families’ recovery in the aftermath of violence is proven and, as a White Ribbon Ambassador standing up against violence in our community, I look forward to continuing to work closely with the organisation.”
Mookai Rosie CEO, Theresa Simpson, said that the project had been developed for over 12 months and complemented the services already provided by her organisation.
“Mookai Rosie has for over 30 years assisted Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander women and children with a comprehensive range of health services and now the time is right to further assist the family unit as a whole. The TOGETHER Programme will include vital elements of men’s behaviour change, economic empowerment and positive self-worth in a culturally responsive, trauma informed environment,” Ms Simpson said.
“Mookai Rosie has recruited and developed the necessary expertise to be able to provide comprehensive services to Aboriginal and Torre Strait islander families. For us and every Australian there is no greater priority than reducing violence against women and children and TOGETHER will allow us to positively contribute to this.
“Without the backing of a number of Cape Mayors and the ongoing support of Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch this project would not be possible. We wish to thank them and the best way to repay this confidence is by Mookai Rosie providing positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families of our region.”
Minister Scullion said in total, $18.9 million would be invested in eight Indigenous community organisations across Australia to deliver a range of services, including trauma-informed therapeutic services for children, services for perpetrators to prevent future offending and intensive family-focused cased management.
“We know that community-based, culturally-appropriate solutions are required to reduce the rate of family violence experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children,” Minister Scullion said.
“We have actively sought the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on how best to address family violence.
“Mookai Rosie has been identified based on its expertise, as well as local needs in the community.
“I commend Mookai Rosie for its important work, and look forward to hearing more as the organisation’s project progresses.”
