WA government unveils domestic violence response team
Hundreds marched through the city streets today calling for an end to family and domestic violence. Ahead of the annual march, the government announced improved staffing of its DV-Response teams, in time for an expected spike in offending over the festive period.
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TVTranscript
00:00 It's been 33 years, but they're still marching for change.
00:07 Rosalie May Kicket never thought she'd be here as a family member of a victim, but in
00:12 August her niece Tiffany Woodley was allegedly murdered by her estranged partner.
00:20 This year has been one of the worst on record for offending in WA, with 16 lives cut short
00:25 due to alleged acts of domestic violence.
00:28 Police have warned the most dangerous period is still ahead.
00:31 December represents the greatest harm of FE offending in our community across the calendar
00:35 year.
00:36 The collision of family dynamics, financial pressures and alcohol substance consumption
00:41 are key contributors to this situation.
00:44 But they've pledged to tackle it head on.
00:46 The government has revealed details of a dedicated DV response team involving police, child protection
00:51 workers and the Department of Communities, focusing on early intervention.
00:56 For those families that have really high complex needs and are at very high risk of high harm
01:02 and need ongoing support.
01:04 Advocates hope the funding is here to stay.
01:07 At the moment that's like a two year funding period and so of course we want sustainable
01:11 funding for the prevention work.
01:13 But Ms Kicket says it's only going to work if people don't stay silent.
01:17 Speak out, don't say that, oh look I'm not going to call the police.
01:21 Get involved.
01:22 It's okay because you can save a life.
01:25 The new response team will be in place for the Christmas period.
01:28 For more information visit www.fema.gov/response