Wesnet welcomes the release of the second annual report of the Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Commissioner, Micaela Cronin, and we thank the Commissioner and her team for their ongoing commitment to the critical work towards ending violence against women and children. We are at a critical juncture in the lifecycle of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children (2022–2032) and as noted by the Commission, it is an immediate priority to look towards the next action plan and the seven years remaining of the National Plan.
“As we turn our focus to implementation, we are at a critical point in the Second National Plan. We are encouraged to see a renewed emphasis on action and welcome the Minister’s commitment to ensuring these strategies are fully realised in practice.”
— Karen Bentley, CEO, Wesnet
We endorse the Commission’s findings that truly meaningful and effective national action towards ending violence against women and children requires not only coordinated planning, but dedicated monitoring, data collection and oversight at the federal level. Wesnet welcomes the Commission’s recommendation to expedite a comprehensive national needs analysis to determine unmet demand in DFSV crisis response, recovery and healing, and notes the existing work being led by Safe and Equal through the Measuring Family Violence Service Demand project. Building a nationwide picture of the DFSV service system and demand is a crucial step towards ensuring that all survivors of violence have immediate and equitable access to the support they need and have a right to, and that DFSV services are adequately and sustainably funded to continue their lifesaving work.
We note and welcome, in particular, the Commission’s recommendations and focus on resourcing for Aboriginal community controlled organisations capacity and capability building, funding for priority populations and community-led solutions and responses and workforce growth, increased stability and reduced burnout.
The report highlights the importance of dedicated and specialised responses to children and young people as victim survivors in their own right and in particular the recommendation to establish a DFSV Youth Advisory Council to embed young voices in all future action planning. We understand the vital importance of elevating and centering the lived experience of our communities in building safe and effective services and systems, and in particular the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people living with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community and migrant and refugee communities.
Wesnet is looking forward to the response from all levels of government to this report and its recommendations, and stands ready to continue its collaboration with the Commission, Government, specialist services and communities to ensure that the National Plan is implemented effectively, equitably and with urgency.
Download the Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Commission’s Yearly Report to Parliament 2025.