Foundation being created to help protect women and kids from violence

The foundation will be chaired by former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja.

The Victorian and federal governments have contributed about $9.5 million to get the foundation off the ground and pay its operating costs until 2017.

It will be launched in Melbourne today at an event to be attended by women's support agencies and Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay, among others.

Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said the foundation would be a national body that would inform, educate and empower the community to end violence.

"To truly tackle this issue, we need a co-ordinated national voice, an obvious rallying point, the collaboration of the sector and the explicit support and endorsement of government.

"We believe this new foundation can achieve that," Ms Wooldridge said.

She said the foundation would build partnerships with business, philanthropic organisations and government as well as seek community support.

It will undertake prevention and early intervention programs through schools, communities and the media, host forums and conferences, and run targeted media and social-media campaigns.

Minister for the Status of Women Julie Collins said violence against women was one of the most significant issues facing the community.

"In addition to the personal cost, domestic and family violence costs the Australian community more than $13 billion a year," Ms Collins said.

Ms Stott Despoja said the foundation would be raising awareness about violence against women and their children, and would have a strong focus on preventing family violence.

"I hope the foundation will change attitudes toward violence and that we will see a reduction in violence against women and their children, with a goal of eradicating it," she said.

"We are going to be engaging the community with an issue that's been taboo for such a long time."

The Herald Sun's Take a Stand campaign this week revealed that 34 per cent of Australian women had experienced physical violence from an intimate partner.

Five directors from across Australia will join Ms Stott Despoja on the board of the new foundation.

They are Alcoa managing director and West Coast Eagles chairman Alan Cransberg; Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency CEO Prof Muriel Bamblett; long-term campaigner on women's issues Prof Rosemary Calder; White Ribbon ambassador Dr Phil Lambert; and chair of the National Centre of Excellence Prof Anne Edwards.

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