Victorian Minister for Police Wade Noonan has announced that the Step Back Think program, which raises awareness of the dangers of social violence such as one-punch assaults, will receive $200,000 in 2015-16. Mr. Noonan explained that under the agreement, Step Back Think will develop a long-term strategic plan to set itself up as a financially independent not-for-profit group. “This government is committed to reducing violence on our streets. Too many lives have been destroyed by just one punch.” Mr. Noonan commented “Step Back Think gets young Victorians to think about their actions before it’s too late by highlighting the devastating impact violence can have.”
Step Back Think was formed by friends of one punch-victim James Macready-Bryan, who was left with severe brain damage after an assault in 2006. The group works to educate thousands of Victorian students each year about the effects of social violence on victims and perpetrators.
Mr. Noonan explained that the funding came after the Government delivered a fresh injection of $5.8 million to the Department of Justice’s community crime prevention program while a broader review of crime prevention was conducted. The review, led by Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll, is expected to be completed by the end of September.