• Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

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22 February 2011Domestic violence and sexual assault are the most pervasive forms of violence experienced by women in Australia, and require an immediate and focused response.

Reducing all violence in our community is a priority. All forms of violence against women are unacceptable, in any community and in any culture. It is everyone's responsibility to reject and prevent violence.

The Commonwealth Government established the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (the National Council) in May 2008 to advise on measures to reduce the incidence and impact of violence against women and their children.

The National Council was asked to develop an evidence-based plan for reducing violence against women and their children, based on community consultation, assessing existing Australian and international research, investigating the effectiveness of legal systems and commissioning research on the economic costs of violence.

The Commonwealth has since worked closely with state and territory governments to develop this National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.

The National Plan targets two main types of violence: domestic and family violence and sexual assault. These crimes are gendered crimes – that is they have an unequal impact on women.