ADJOURNMENT

Ms BELYEA (Dunkley) (19:55): Last week, I was very proud to host Assistant Minister Ged Kearney in Dunkley for an important family violence roundtable as part of the second national action plan to end violence against women and children. The roundtable brought together 19 organisations from across the family violence sector, alongside representatives from local and state governments, including Paul Mercurio, the state MP for Hastings.

This event provided an opportunity to hear directly from those working on the front line every day, supporting victims-survivors, protecting children, responding to crises and helping families rebuild their lives. While each organisation brought a unique perspective, there was strong agreement on one key point: while crisis responses remain essential, we must do more to prevent family violence before it occurs and intervene earlier.

The Albanese Labor government has committed more than $4.4 billion to ending violence against women and children. That investment is making a real difference through crisis services, emergency accommodation and support programs. However, participants made it clear that, if we are serious about ending family violence, prevention and early intervention approaches must remain central to the program.

The discussion was grounded in the reality facing our local community. In Frankston, family violence incident rates rose from 139 incidents per 10,000 people in 2022 to 166 per 10,000 in 2024. This is significantly above the Victorian average of 135 incidents per 10,000 people.

These figures are a reminder that communities like ours continue to face significant challenges. One of the strongest messages from the roundtable was that children and young people must be recognised as victims in their own right. Too often, they are viewed only as part of the family unit rather than as victims-survivors whose experiences require recognition and support.

One story shared on the evening has stayed with me—a family violence refuge worker described a five-year-old child who had developed a plan to help keep his mother alive during violent incidents at home. No child should have to learn survival strategies before they have even started school. Participants also challenged the language we commonly use.

We often say children 'witness' family violence, but children are not simply witnesses. They are experiencing that family violence too. If a parent lives in fear, so too do their children.

The language we use shapes how we understand harm and how we design responses. Another issue was the complexity of navigating support systems. Victims-survivors are often required to repeat their stories to multiple agencies, forcing them to relive their trauma again and again.

We must continue improving information sharing and service coordination so that support is centred on the needs of those seeking help. Jackie Galloway, the CEO of Peninsula Community Legal Service, highlighted the need for stronger coordination across jurisdictions. Representatives spoke about the disconnect between state family violence systems and family law processes.

Better integration would deliver safer and more consistent outcomes for families. The challenges facing frontline organisations were also discussed. Short-term funding creates uncertainty and forces organisations into a cycle of grant applications rather than service delivery.

Sustainable funding provides stability for organisations, staff and, most importantly, the families that rely on their support. Participants also reflected on the growing impacts of loneliness and isolation. Isolation is often caused by perpetrators as a form of coercive control, but it also weakens the community connections that help keep people safe.

I thank every organisation that participated in the roundtable and acknowledge the vital work they do every day. Their expertise, compassion and honesty are helping shape a stronger response to family violence. To Family Life, the Orange Door, Anglicare, SECASA, Good Shepherd, OzChild and Brotherhood of St.

Laurence, thank you. House adjourned at 20:00