Almost half the women in the Northern Territory (NT) have experienced violence since the age of 15, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women particularly at risk. This report analyses current policy frameworks in the NT to identify areas for strengthening prevention efforts. It finds that although there is significant prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing work underway in the NT, significant opportunities exist to build on and improve this work, particularly through First Nations led community-based approaches. It concludes by outlining five key opportunities to improve primary prevention infrastructure and capacity. 

Key findings

• Nearly half of all women in the Northern Territory (46%) have experienced violence since they turned 15.
• In 2020-21, the rate of hospitalisations due to family and domestic violence in the NT was 20 times the national average.
• 91% of women killed in domestic and family violence-related homicides between August 2000 and June 2023 were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women.
• The estimated cost of domestic, family, and sexual violence to the Northern Territory exceeded $450 million in 2020-21.

Recommendations

1. Deliver on existing primary prevention commitments in NT Government Frameworks and Action Plans. 
2. Continue to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities to ensure local decision making, ownership and control are at the heart of prevention in the NT.
3. Commit to and invest in the development and implementation of a dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy for the NT.
4. Build the foundations for primary prevention by establishing sustainable, ongoing mechanisms for coordination, collaboration, quality assurance, and monitoring & evaluation.
5. Build capacity in the Department of Education workforce to support implementation of Respectful Relationships Education in every NT school.