By CASEY NEILL
Dandenong police are receiving help to better respond to family violence in the Aboriginal community.
Victoria Police launched the Koori Family Violence Police Protocols (KFVPP) at the Dandenong Civic Centre during Reconciliation Week on Friday 27 May.
Officers will attend Koori Cultural Awareness Training that local Aboriginal community members have developed to increase cultural understanding around policing family violence.
They’ll learn more about local support services available to Aboriginal victims and perpetrators and work more closely with Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers (ACLOs).
Superintendent Paul Hollowood said police had been working hard to address family violence and had made significant inroads in increasing the confidence of victims to speak up.
“These protocols will further improve our response to victims, children and perpetrators of family violence, ensuring all communities receive the best support possible from police,” he said.
The KFVPP project is a partnership between Victoria Police, the Department of Justice and Regulation and the Victorian Aboriginal community.
Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service CEO Antoinette Braybrook said the protocols would build on the strong working partnerships between police, local Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal family violence networks and services.
“Family violence crosses all boundaries and affects all communities,” she said.
“Part of the project is raising awareness of service providers and police about Aboriginal culture and building trust between community and police.”
The protocols have already been launched in Mildura, Darebin, Bairnsdale, Ballarat and Shepparton.
