The Albanese Labor Government is pleased to support today’s release of the National Plan Stakeholder Consultation Report (the Report) and thanks all contributors for their important work.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said the Report will play an important role in informing the development and implementation of the important next National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 (National Plan).
“The National Plan is a plan for everyone in Australia. A critical part of its development is listening to the victim-survivors, advocates, sector representatives, research experts, business leaders, and the broader community about what the National Plan needs to achieve.
“The release of this report is an important step towards finalising the National Plan. I want to thank everyone who gave generously their time and expertise throughout the consultation process.”
The Report, delivered by Monash University’s Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre at the request of the Government, presents the findings of workshops and interviews with almost 500 stakeholders conducted from July to September 2021, as well as the roundtable discussions at the National Summit on Women’s Safety in September 2021.
Director, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre Associate Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon said the report draws on the expertise of nearly 500 Australian practitioners, sector leaders, community advocates and policymakers.
“I am thrilled that Minister Rishworth has released the Stakeholder Consultation Report,” Associate Professor Fitz-Gibbon said.
“Family, domestic and sexual violence is a national crisis and This Report presents the breadth of commitment needed across the prevention, early intervention, response and recovery space for Australian governments to truly lead a transformational shift in our progress towards ending domestic, family and sexual violence.
“The Stakeholder Report evidences the strong call for children and young people to be clearly established as a priority in the next National Plan.”
Minister Rishworth said the Albanese Labor government is committed to delivering a strong and evidence-based National Plan that will meet the needs of all people in Australia that are experiencing gender-based violence.
“This means taking an inclusive and intersectional approach to the National Plan to make sure the experiences, recovery and safety needs of groups such as First Nations families, LGBTIQA+ people, women with disability, children and young people, older women, migrant and refugee women, and women on temporary visas are addressed in the National Plan,” Minister Rishworth said.
“One woman dies in Australia every nine days at the hands of their current or former partner. The National Plan will set out a strategy for the next decade with the aim of reducing that number.”
The Government is working closely with states and territories, women’s safety experts and victim survivors to make sure the next National Plan is in place as swiftly as possible. Ministers responsible for women and women’s safety will meet in Adelaide next Friday 22 July.
The full Stakeholder Consultation Report will be available from 8am AEST Thursday 14 July on the National Plan website.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au