The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 and
standalone First Nations National Plan
The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 was released in October
2022 and is Australia’s strategy to address domestic, family and sexual violence and has the overarching
vision of ending gender-based violence in one generation.52
The National Plan will be implemented through two 5-year Action Plans. These will detail specific
Commonwealth, state and territory government actions and investment to implement the objectives
across each of the four domains: prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing. In
the longer-term, a standalone First Nations National Plan will be developed to address the unacceptably
high rates of violence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children experience. This violence
happens alongside the multiple, intersecting and layered forms of discrimination and disadvantage
affecting the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. A deliverable
under this National Plan is a dedicated action plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family safety,
which will provide the foundations for the future standalone First Nations National Plan.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council on family, domestic and sexual violence
(Advisory Council) is leading the development of the dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Action Plan. The Advisory Council will work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, Elders,
communities, community-led organisations and governments to build effective pathways, services and
responses for both victim-survivors and perpetrators of family violence.
The Advisory Council will be undertaking initial consultation on a draft Action Plan from late 2022 before
it is finalised for commencement from July 2023.
The Australian Government has also committed to delivering a standalone First Nations National Plan. In
order to address the complex and sensitive factors driving violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander women, children and communities, both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan
and the standalone First Nations National Plan will explore solutions linked to the principles of truth
telling and self-determination. They will also highlight the need to transform current prevention, early
intervention, response, recovery and healing efforts so that they: – counter systemic racism – promote
culturally safe practices and holistic approaches that respond to deeply held historical trauma and
improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These principles, along with
continued work to establish meaningful partnerships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
leaders, communities and those sectors involved in the broader family violence system, are required if
Australia is to achieve the Closing the Gap Target 13.
Wiyi Yani U Thangani • First Nations Women’s Safety Policy Forum • Outcomes Report | 47