Gallagher says only 30 of 500 frontline gendered violence jobs filled

Katy Gallagher says states are “having issues with recruiting” for the new roles.  (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher has defended the government’s eligibility criteria for its leaving violence payment and says states and territories have only filled 30 frontline gendered violence roles ahead of a target to fill 352.

In 2023, the federal government pledged $169 million over four years to fund 500 new frontline workers to assist people who had experienced family, domestic or sexual violence.

Under the program, the federal government provides the funding and outlines how it must be spent, but the states are responsible for ensuring workers are hired. All states and territories committed nationally to filling 352 positions by June 30.

Last week, the ABC reported that with only weeks out to the deadline, no state or territory was on track to meet the target for workers.

The minister for women and finance said the last figure she saw for the number of workers was 30, noting staff recruitment issues.

“We’ve got an agreement with the states. We made the payments, I think, last June and at the end of last year,” she said.

“So the money is there. I think the states’ view is they’re having issues with recruiting. But [Minister for Social Services] Amanda Rishworth has been working with her state and territory colleagues to really try and get these workers in place as soon as possible.

“They’ve signed on to [an] agreement to have the vast majority of them employed in the first half of this year, but they are saying that staff and recruiting staff is an issue.”

The government had come under criticism from survivors, advocates and service providers for not going far enough in its announcement to address the scourge of gendered violence in the country this week.

Experts noted an absence of announcements surrounding perpetrator data, alcohol and gambling measures, as well as a lack of funding announcements for more frontline workers in the sector.

The government did announce the Leaving Violence Program, an extension of a Morrison government pilot that provides $1,500 in cash and up to $3,500 in goods and services for those eligible for the payment wanting to flee violence.

A Department of Social Services review of the original pilot found just 36 per cent of applicants before April 1 2023 were judged eligible to get the $5,000 payment.

The government has argued the key difference in the new scheme from the earlier one is the widened eligibility criteria, however, the criteria are still limited to those fleeing violence from a partner and for those over 18.

Some experts have said that leaves younger people fleeing violence, or those experiencing violence from a family member as opposed to a partner unable to access the payment.

Ms Gallagher said the payment was not the only available option for Australians wanting to leave a violent home, and defended the age limit.

“This payment is not one solution in isolation of a lot of other supports that exist for people who might be in that situation, particularly for young people. In fact, the evaluation found that the age criteria was appropriate for this payment.”