Several key findings and recommendations are repeated across reports and research. Similar findings
were also raised by Forum participants, including the need for:
• an integrated, whole-of-system response to family, domestic and sexual violence within government
and across all jurisdictions
• recognition and responses to the systemic intersectional drivers of violence for First Nations people,
which include the consequences of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, multiple racialised and
gendered inequalities and discrimination
• improved data collection on the causes, consequences and responses to violence against First
Nations women and children, and rigorous evaluations of policies, programs and legislations to be
designed and led by First Nations people
• recognition that systems and approaches, from policy design to service delivery, can cause and
perpetuate violence, and systems need significant reform at all levels to continuously respond to, and
incorporate, community-controlled approaches and best practice
• investment into national coverage of holistic family-oriented healing approaches and services that
can ensure the safety of women and children while responding to the whole family, including men
• a national approach to embed trauma and healing informed practices across all services responding
to family and sexual violence including child protection, justice, health and housing
• the development of programs and existing services and responses to be culturally grounded,
informed, and secure
• the development and support of mechanisms to guarantee First Nations women and children codesign policies, legislation and programs that impact their lives.
Although there are some efforts to respond to these findings and recommendations, Forum participants
emphasised that these efforts remain piecemeal, ad-hoc and short-term. There is a serious need for a
comprehensive, long-term nationally consistent approach committed to genuine transformational and
structural change.
Links to existing strategies and targets
Participants also stressed the importance of utilising existing frameworks and their targets and plans, to
action recommendations rather than continuously engaging in consultation processes that produce the
same recommendations.
Significantly, Forum participants spoke of the importance of developing accountability and monitoring
mechanisms to guide and guarantee implementation and alignment of strategies and to respond
effectively to recommendations and actions. Many participants stated that it is important not to recreate
mechanisms that already exist such as establishing Commissioner positions without clear need and
purpose. There was some commentary stating that the necessary commissioner positions have been
established to monitor family violence and it is important to consider other mechanisms to guarantee
accountability and implementation of plans. This is particularly the case given the Government’s
commitment to the establishment of the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Commissioner to track
progress against targets in the next National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.
Wiyi Yani U Thangani • First Nations Women’s Safety Policy Forum • Outcomes Report | 23