NTCOSS welcomes both major parties’ announcement to committing $180 million, funding the specialist Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) sector and implementing the Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Reduction Action Plan 2.
“This issue is too important for playing politics,” NTCOSS CEO Sally Sievers said.
“A bipartisan approach to addressing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence will be crucial as we move beyond the election.
“The commitment from both parties recognises the devastating impacts of DFSV on the lives of Territorians and the importance of prioritising this work.”
However, that figure is the bare minimum asked for and recommended over a five-year period by the NTG’s DFSV interagency Coordination and Reform Office Report.
To meet DFSV reduction commitments to protect women and children in the NT – funding urgently needs to be provided to the specialist DFSV sector with funding including:
- a 50% increase to fund grassroots violence prevention
- adequately fund early intervention initiatives including training for frontline responses
- Secure, ongoing and indexed funding for crisis accommodation and outreach services
- Recovery and healing including funding counselling services including for children
NTCOSS calls for safeguarding and restoring of funding across the whole Community and Social Sector (including the DFSV sector) to enable nonprofits to effectively perform the services that they have been contracted to perform with the following required (with thanks to NT Shelter):
- An increase in base funding for frontline services organisations by 2.5% in 2024-25 and by 5% in 2025-26 and each subsequent year across the forward estimates to restore sector funding comparative to levels in 2018.
- Sufficient wage and CPI cost indexation to grant agreements to ensure that grant funding is maintained in real terms and meets the actual cost of service delivery.
- A commitment to remove the efficiency dividend on grants
Every Territorian will benefit from the contribution of a nonprofit at some point in their lives. NTCOSS is urging all political parties and candidates to commit to policies that prioritise fairness and equity for all Territorians ahead of the NT Election.
Read the 2024 Northern Territory Election Priorities document here.
Contact Greg Roberts on 0429 515 013 or media@ntcoss.org.au