New domestic violence treatment services are being established across the State through a $335,000 funding program.
The expansion will help community-based organisations run more specialist domestic violence programs and will take effect from the New Year.
Family and Community Development Minister Eric Ripper said today the increased funding was to start new counselling and support services for victims, and to run extra education programs for perpetrators.
Mr Ripper said world experience was that about one-in-three relationships had the potential for an incident of domestic violence, and some one-in-eight faced the likelihood of a serious clash.
Past years in Perth showed a 10 per cent increase in domestic violence incidents over the Christmas and New Year period when families faced extra stresses.
The upgrading, flagged in the State Government's $179 million Social Advantage package, included $70,000 to Marriage Guidance Western Australia, to undertake a pilot counselling service for children who were traumatised by violence between their parents.
The boost to services was in addition to the $5.2 million spent in 1991-92 to provide some 30 refuges and safe-houses for women and children in WA.
"Family violence can not be tolerated and community recognition that it is a crime, is an important factor in bringing it out from behind closed doors," Mr Ripper said.
"A balanced program to fight this major social problem needs to include services and education to the perpetrators of this violence to break what is often a self-perpetuating cycle of abuse."
Mr Ripper said seven programs from Broome to Kalgoorlie would receive funding to provide new services.
These were:
· Centrecare Marriage and Family Service, Perth;
· Starick House, Armadale, Gosnells and Nollamara.
Country services to be expanded included:
· Marnja Jarndu, Broome, to provide a mobile family violence counselling service in the West Kimberley;
· Geraldton Sexual Assault Referral Service;
· Waratah Support Centre, Bunbury;
· Domestic Violence Action Group, Bunbury;
· Centrecare, Kalgoorlie.
Mr Ripper said the new domestic violence services would be closely monitored and continually evaluated.
