Domestic violence blueprint

THE recovery of domestic violence survivors will be at the forefront of a new national blueprint to end acts of violence against women and children.

The draft plan for the next decade, released on Friday, will also shine a spotlight on sexual violence, as the number of reported incidents soar.

“Sadly, the rates of family, domestic and sexual violence remain persistently high,” Women’s Safety Minister Anne Ruston said.

“It is a national shame and we must focus on driving down the level of violence toward zero.”

Australia’s first national action plan, launched in 2010, helped to change people’s perceptions about family, domestic and sexual violence.

But the new road map has a specific focus on recovery efforts to help break the cycle of violence.

This includes steps to ensure victims are not re-traumatised when they try to access services, and training for health practitioners about the mental health impacts of abuse and the support available.

Senator Ruston said the government would invest $1m to continue talks with victimsurvivors over the decade to work toward zero violence.

“The voices and experiences of victim-survivors are essential to delivering traumainformed services and solutions,” she said.

“To succeed we must listen, engage and be informed by diverse lived experiences … we must get this right.”

The plan features four pillars: prevention, intervention, response and recovery. These are also underpinned by several principles including gender equality and Closing the Gap It also highlights that new and innovative ways of working with men and boys, who use violence, are needed.

And that all women, children and LGBTIQA+ people of all genders and diverse backgrounds should be able to “live free from fear and violence”.