Advocacy

JSC recently made a submission to the consultation on the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032, which will help shape the Australian Government's next phase of responding to violence against women and children. The submission called for increased funding for integrated legal, DFV casework and financial counselling models, strong partnerships with local organisations as trusted entry points, multilingual staffing and resources (including Vietnamese- and Arabic-speaking lawyers and community liaison officers), support and training for informal help-seeking, frontline workers and government decision-makers, workforce diversity, development and wellbeing, and improved data collection capability through standardised data tools, data sharing, service mapping and outcomes tracking.

In light of the Government’s recognition and commitment to combatting domestic violence, we strongly suggest the Government consider appointing a Commissioner who has a demonstrated a commitment to, and understanding of violence affecting victim-survivors, particularly First Nations women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, young women, women in regional, rural, and remote areas experiencing persistent social, cultural and economic disadvantage.

JSC welcomes this reform and will continue to advocate for a well-resourced, independent Commissioner who can drive systemic change for victim-survivors.

We ask for progression of the reforms and all others in the Equality Bill, including the proposed amendments to the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007, which would add provisions that protect LGBTIQA+ from ‘outing’ in circumstances of potential violence.