SiS Tasmania, an Aboriginal-led Family Violence and Prevention Legal Service, has welcomed the federal government's budget commitment to reduce family, domestic and sexual violence.
First announced earlier this year and confirmed by treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday, $218.3 million over five years has been committed to establish up to 40 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver specialist, community-led services as part of the Our Ways - Strong Ways - Our Voices: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence 2026-2036.
Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service CEO Jake Smith said this is a much-needed investment to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations supporting families to reduce family domestic and sexual violence.
"While we welcome this announcement, we do so cautiously," Mr Smith said.
"As Tasmania's dedicated Aboriginal Family Violence and Prevention Legal Service, working to support the legal, social and wraparound needs of Aboriginal women, children and families across Tasmania, it will be important to understand the details of these announcements further."
A steering committee of Indigenous leaders this year said the plan "will be our commitment to honour the testimony of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples around the country who told us what they need".
"We listened to women and children. We listened to Elders, young people and men. We listened to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and non-Indigenous organisations that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities," the committee said.
"We listened to governments who want to end gender-based violence through better investments and genuine and formal partnerships."
Mr Smith said TALS hoped the commitment will reach Tasmania, the organisations doing the work, and the Aboriginal women, children and families it intends to support.
"We know, through our work on the ground right now, with Aboriginal women, children and families, that more needs to be done," he said.
Elsewhere in health, $144 million over two years has been earmarked for infrastructure improvements for ACCHOs across the country to deliver better services for Indigenous people.
Another $53 million over five years will go towards dialysis units, while $44 million over four years will extend funding for 10 existing Birthing on Country services.
Mr Smith said SiS Tasmania - Support, Information, Strength - a service provided by TALS, will continue to advocate and continue conversations with Governments, so Aboriginal women, children, and families in Tasmania receive the support which has been announced.
With Dechlan Brennan.