Prior to the New South Wales election in 2023, No to Violence (NTV) toured seven areas of the state with higher-than-average rates of police-recorded domestic violence incidents - Blacktown, Penrith, Nowra, Wagga Wagga, Orange, Lismore and Charlestown.

The aim was to hear directly from NTV members, and people working in the sector, about the challenges of preventing and responding to domestic and family violence in their local communities.

This report summarises what NTV heard and what NTV will advocate for on behalf of their members.

What was heard:

NTV heard time and again that the sector that works to end men’s family violence is under-funded, under-resourced and under-recognised. NTV also heard that the sector needs more sustainable funding, not short-term contacts.

Service providers across all seven locations shared similar reflections about what is needed to build a thriving sector in NSW.

No to Violence has summarised what was heard into eight priorities. If actioned by the government, these priorities will support the safety and wellbeing of women and children by holding men accountable for their use of family violence.

What NTV is calling for:

1. Multi-year funding to create a sustainable sector
2. Investing in community-led services
3. Supporting a thriving workforce
4. Creating housing security
5. Increasing access to services
6. Enabling collaboration between services
7. Embedding primary prevention and early intervention
8. Strong political leadership to end men’s family violence