Family and sexual violence cause enormous hurt and harm in our community.
Historically, the scale and impact of family and sexual violence was largely hidden and ignored. Violence was often downplayed, justified or seen as a ‘private matter’. Victim survivors were too often left to fend for their own safety or find their way to grassroot specialist services.
The Royal Commission into Family Violence in 2016 marked a turning point. We heard from victim survivors and advocates, we witnessed their anguish and learned how violence had upended their lives and sense of safety. We were also humbled by their stories of recovery, healing and advocacy for change.
Victoria has now implemented all of the Commission’s 227 recommendations. We matched our action with investment, providing over $4 billion since the Commission to continue our efforts to end family violence.
Under our 10-year plan, Ending family violence: Victoria’s plan for change, Victoria has transformed how it prevents and responds to family and sexual violence. This is something to be proud of. Together, we have contributed to changes at a scale and pace rarely seen before in Australia. Thousands of people across the state have brought this change to life. People with lived experience and their families, advocates, workers, service providers and government have worked together to make Victoria safer.
But ending family and sexual violence is complex. Gendered drivers are deeply embedded in our society. While people who use violence are ultimately responsible for their choices, we know that violence can be harder to disrupt when people have experienced trauma, struggled with their mental health, substance use or gambling. This all sits alongside an ever-changing backdrop, with technology and social media continually throwing up new challenges that require us to adapt and change.
This rolling action plan reflects our next steps. Some of our actions pioneer new ideas. For example, immersing an entire community in violence prevention initiatives through the Respect Ballarat: A community model to prevent gendered violence.
We will build on what works. Guiding attitudes and behaviours in younger generations through respectful relationships education. Helping parents and carers navigate the complexities of an online world.
We will continue to listen to victim survivors – including children and young people – on how we can effectively protect them from harm. We will work to ensure victim survivors have a safe and stable home they can recover in. We will make sure they have greater access to services that support healing, recovery and justice.
People who use violence will be held accountable and supported to change their behaviour. We will deepen our understanding of perpetrator motivations, behaviours and tactics through research to make sure our interventions align with evidence of what works. Adults who present serious risk will be closely monitored and subject to intensive interventions. This includes through the justice system and strong laws that reflect the varied and often calculating ways violence is used (such as coercive control).
We will use different strategies to support young people who use violence and their families, which are therapeutic and non-stigmatising, but work hard to turn their behaviours around.
We will roll out a new risk assessment framework tailored to the needs of children and young people. The framework will make sure all services consistently and capably respond to and meet the needs of children.
We will look at how we can improve the regulation of alcohol and gambling. We know these factors can worsen the use of violence and the harm it causes.
Our work will strengthen the foundations of our family and sexual violence systems. This includes making sure:
- we are collecting and analysing the right data
- we have enough skilled and supported workers for our programs and services
- technology helps rather than hinders our efforts.
Every action in this plan has been developed with overarching principles that:centre lived experience
- reflect intersectionality and diversity
- uphold Aboriginal self-determination
- recognise our collective accountability to end violence.
We are grateful to the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council and other victim survivors, as well as to all the workforces, services and community groups that help to make Victoria safer.
I also want to thank those who took the time to share their insights and expertise to help shape this plan.
The Victorian Government remains deeply committed to this important work.
Together, we will not stop until every Victorian is safe, thriving and living free from violence.
The Hon. Natalie Hutchins
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence
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