Hunter Region Groups Share in $5.2 Million Domestic Violence Prevention Funding

newy.com.au – Community organisations in the Hunter region are among the recipients of nearly $5.2 million in NSW Government funding to support local efforts aimed at preventing domestic, family and sexual violence.

Announced on 1 July 2025, the grants will support 11 organisations through the Primary Prevention Multi-Year Partnerships Grant Program, which is part of the state’s Pathways to Prevention strategy for 2024 to 2028. The funding targets projects that aim to shift the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence, with a strong focus on local solutions.

In Cessnock, the Top Blokes Foundation has secured $450,000 to deliver a mentoring program for young males. The initiative aims to build healthy masculinities and improve behaviours and attitudes towards women by working directly with primary and high schools across a three-year period.

Lake Macquarie’s Young Women’s Alliance will receive $250,000 to expand its evidence-based prevention program, reaching 1,000 at-risk young people. The program is designed to reduce incidents of domestic, family and sexual violence through early intervention and targeted education.

People With Disability Australia has also been awarded more than $265,000 for its “Healthy Relationships” program, which will operate across Sydney, Wollongong, the Central West, Wagga Wagga and the Hunter. The project will provide training and resources to people with disability, their families and support networks, focusing on building understanding of healthy platonic and romantic relationships.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, said the state is investing in prevention because violence is not inevitable. “The Primary Prevention Multi-Year Partnerships Grant Program is a long-term initiative to help local communities challenge the underlying attitudes which can lead to abusive behaviour,” she said.

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner, Dr Hannah Tonkin, said, “Local community organisations can play a crucial role in preventing domestic, family and sexual violence. They’re in a unique position to increase understanding and awareness at the local level, build trust with community members, respond to local needs and drive lasting change.”

The grants are part of a broader $38 million commitment to prevention under the Pathways to Prevention strategy. Other initiatives include partnerships with local councils and sporting bodies, such as the Multisport Coalition, to support community-based prevention programs.

This primary prevention effort sits alongside expanded government measures including $48 million for victim-survivor support services, electronic monitoring of serious domestic violence offenders, and bail law reforms aimed at improving safety outcomes.