This is the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission’s (the Commission’s) first report to Parliament on the progress of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 (the National Plan).

The Commission’s engagement across the nation has focused on understanding how the National Plan has changed the landscape for those involved in its implementation, those with lived experience and the broader community. This report explores areas across policy, implementation and service delivery that present opportunities to accelerate, amplify and drive impact towards the objectives of the National Plan over the coming years. 

The findings are intended to be constructive and offer contemporary insights, noting the growing work across jurisdictions which will continue to inform progress towards eliminating violence against women and children. The Commission has also signalled key area of focus for the consideration of governments. 

It is for Australian, state and territory governments to determine how they might respond to this report.

Key findings

• The Commission will continue to focus on governance of the National Plan’s implementation and efforts to assess and measure progress. We will draw on the available reporting mechanisms once established.
• Governments have recognised the critical role of lived experience in policymaking. Lived experience engagement
  needs to be embedded across all aspects of policy design, implementation and evaluation, prioritising a co-design approach.
• Governments have invested significant public funds to address domestic, family and sexual violence. Despite this, services and systems are overwhelmed by community need.
• Men must be a part of every aspect of ending violence. Governments must support efforts to redefine masculinity and engage men effectively. More intervention options for men using or at risk of using violence are needed, which take a trauma-informed approach, improve information sharing and risk assessment and management.
• Workforce capability development needs national leadership, prioritising the specialist domestic, family, and sexual violence workforce. Since addressing domestic, family and sexual violence is a key element of work across many sectors, capability development and integration with these workforces is an opportunity to improve system responses.