The following email has been received from the Department of Home Affairs:
Dear stakeholders,
This email is to provide you with a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document that can be distributed to your clients and members to explain the Department of Home Affairs’ (the Department) role in supporting migrant victims of family and domestic violence.
The Australian Government has zero tolerance for family and domestic violence against anyone in the Australian community, including permanent and temporary visa holders.
Data from the Australian Institute of Criminology suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with the onset or escalation of violence and abuse for many women.
The Australian Government has invested $1 billion since 2013 to address family and domestic violence, including $130 million provided directly to State and Territory governments to support frontline services to meet demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To support the Government’s efforts to assist victims of family and domestic violence, the Department has prepared an FAQ document that includes information on arrangements the Department has in place to support visa holders and applicants affected by family and domestic violence. This information should not be read as specific immigration advice, as each person’s circumstances will be different, but rather as a guide to existing policies and services.
This information is intended to assist visa holders. You may wish to disseminate this to your clients and members to better inform them about the Department’ family and domestic violence policies.
Other ways the Department is sharing information
The Department’s Community Liaison Officer (CLO) Network connects with multicultural communities and government partners to share information and report concerns or issues raised by the communities.
On 6 October 2020 as a part of budget measures, the Government announced an additional $6.4 million to employ an additional ten CLO officers to the existing 29 officers to boost engagement with multicultural communities.
The Department is continuing to ensure that visa holders have access to information about support services through its Family violence and your visa webpage, which provides information as well as links to the Department of Social Services (DSS) Family Safety Pack and 1800RESPECT’s counselling and support service. See https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/family-violence-and-your-visa
The Department’s visa grant letters also provide information and a link to the DSS Family Safety Pack.
The Department will continue to be in contact with you to keep you updated on current issues and developments on this critical area.
Yours sincerely,
Family and Permanent Resident Policy Section
Immigration Policy Framework Branch
Immigration and Community Protection Policy Division
ATTACHMENT: Family-Violence-Department-of-Home-Affairs---FAQs.pdf