COMMUNITY programs are central to the state government’s initial approach to tackling the huge problem of family violence.

When it comes to reducing family violence among Aboriginal people, community-led prevention and intervention initiatives are a key part of a $25 million commitment from the state government, announced on Wednesday.

Children and families facing violence will be prioritised, while cultural support plans will be developed for Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.

The state government also says it will fund the development of a “holistic healing model” for Aboriginal people facing family violence – in partnership with the community – and increase recruitment of Aboriginal kinship and foster carers.

More Indigenous people will be assisted to become accredited mediators and conflict resolution workers.

“Today is the first step towards ensuring we have a comprehensive and culturally responsive plan to meet the needs of Aboriginal communities,” Aboriginal affairs minister Natalie Hutchins said.

Elsewhere, Bendigo Community Health Services chief executive officer Kim Sykes welcomed funding directed to protecting children, family services, counselling and expanding the Respectful Relationships program in schools and kindergartens.

“On a number of occasions family violence has been disclosed to BCHS staff either by a child receiving services or because of behaviours demonstrated by a little one brought to us for assessment,” she said.

“There is so much work to be done to achieve real change around family violence but this is a great start and we have a government prepared to lead the way.”

Ms Sykes said recommendations and the community’s response would help BCHS shape services delivered from its new kidzspace centre being built at Kangaroo Flat.

Annie North Women’s Refuge chief executive Julie Oberin welcomed the government’s plans to better fund community legal centres.

“I'm really impressed the state government is going to strengthen community legal services, which are … frontline services and have had some of their funding taken or will be cut in future,” she said.

Peter Noble, chief executive of Bendigo’s Arc Justice, which operates the Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre, said the community itself had prompted the government to act.

“It’s a result of women expressing their concerns directly with the royal commission,” he said. 

“(And) it’s a result of many years of hard and vocal advocacy from family violence services in this area.”