This 2026–27 NSW Budget submission outlines the investment needed to implement the NSW Government’s Building better responses: NSW strategy to respond to the use of domestic and family violence 2026-2030. The submission sets out a roadmap for building earlier, more coordinated and more effective responses to men using violence, a critical step toward improving safety for women and children across New South Wales (NSW). 

Drawing on sector insights, emerging evidence and practitioner experience, the submission recommends measures to expand early intervention and community capability, strengthen referral and engagement pathways, scale an integrated suite of specialist interventions and grow the workforce and evidence base needed to sustain long-term reform. With more than 1,056,000 men in NSW estimated to have used domestic and family violence (DFV) in their lifetime – and limited access to specialist interventions – immediate and strategic investment is required to meet the scale of need. 

Recommendations 

1. Provide $224 million over four years for initial implementation of the NSW strategy to respond to the use of domestic and family violence.
2. Fund a peak body to strengthen the evidence base and policy and practice responses to end men’s use of family violence.
3. Establish a DFV reform implementation body responsible for coordinating the sector and how the NSW Government and its agencies deliver DFV reforms.
4. Commit at least a further $7.5 million to implement the NSW domestic and family violence workforce development strategy.
5. Commit at least a further $8 million to implement the NSW Aboriginal domestic family and sexual violence plan.
6. Commit a further $11.4 million to implement the Common approach to risk assessment and safety.
7. Commit a further $50 million to implement the NSW strategy for the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence.