The Salvation Army Welcomes Federal Government Domestic Violence Package

The Salvation Army welcomes today’s announcement by the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, of the Australian Government’s $100 million package to deliver immediate and practical measures to keep women and their children safe.

This package of support will go directly to help keep women safe through the provision of practical and immediate action by delivering better frontline support and services as well as providing resources to help parents, teachers and students in order to help change young people’s attitudes to violence.

Spokesperson for The Salvation Army, Major Bruce Harmer, says The Salvation Army is proud to be working with the Australian Government to help stem this serious issue.

“It takes leadership to bring a stop to this serious problem which impacts many of Australia’s women, children and young people. We therefore welcome the urgency which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has placed on stopping domestic violence in our community,” Major Harmer said.

“It is only by standing together – government, community organisations such as The Salvation Army and individual Australians – which we will bring about the cultural shift Australia requires to bring an end to domestic violence.”

Of particular note, The Salvation Army welcomes the news of $17 million to keep women safe in their homes, including a grant to The Salvation Army to work with security experts to conduct risk assessments on victim’s homes, help change their locks and scan for bugs.

Major Bruce Harmer says women and children must be able to feel safe within their own home and community and should not be forced to uproot themselves and flee in order to feel safe.

“While prevention of domestic violence should be the priority, as a community we also need to provide the support to women and children who have fallen victim to violence,” Major Harmer said.

“The Salvation Army looks forward to working with survivors of domestic violence by providing the support they need to stay within their own homes by making them feel as secure as possible.”