On 17 October this year, the government released the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and their Children 2022-2032, with the ambitious target of ending domestic and family violence, and sexual violence within a generation.

We contributed to the formation of the National Plan through our submissions to the Department, firstly our submission ‘Developing the next National Plan to End Violence Against Women and their Children’ in September 2021, and secondly our ‘Response to the Draft National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032’.

In August 2021, National Director Claerwen Little said during the National Summit on Women’s Safety that the new plan must involve partnerships from all sectors with local community engagement being the focal point.

Ms Little also emphasised the need for a dedicated plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and a commitment to the principles of self-determination, and we are heartened to see the new plan provides a dedicated plan for First Peoples. We are urging the government to set a date for the standalone First Nations Plan as soon as possible.

We also supported the intention to engage perpetrators of domestic and family violence, we must address the causes of gendered violence, and put in place trauma informed solutions that achieve genuine, long term behaviour change. It is critical that we address every side of the issue, including perpetrator behaviour.

Ending violence against women and their children within a generation will take commitment from all levels of government, service organisations, communities, workplaces, individuals, schools and the media.

The availability of housing options for women leaving violence, including social and affordable housing, rent assistance and crisis accommodation must be increased to enable women to leave a violent situation.

We also know achieving the goals of the plan will require significant resources and funding if the ambitious target of ending domestic, sexual and family violence within a generation is to be realised.

We will be continuing to work with the Government on the implementation of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and their Children 2022-2032, through advocacy, and through the critically important work undertaken by our community service providers on the ground.