Indigenous family violence primary prevention framework

Family violence has been an issue of serious concern to Aboriginal people, families and communities in Victoria for a number of years. In 2003, the Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Task Force Report identified that it is widely recognised and acknowledged that family violence adversely affects the social, cultural, health, emotional, and economic well being of Aboriginal people, families and communities. Aboriginal definitions of the nature and forms of family violence are broader and more encompassing than those used in a mainstream context. The Task Force Report affirmed the need to build on the strengths of Aboriginal families and communities and encompass Aboriginal concepts to effectively address family violence within Aboriginal communities. This resulted in a community led partnership between the Aboriginal communities of Victoria and government to address family violence together. Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families: Towards a safer future for Indigenous families and communities Ten Year Plan2 (the Ten Year Plan), identified the commitment to develop an Indigenous specific prevention framework for family violence which links to the wider prevention framework developed by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation