The Department of Communities (Communities) has established an Office for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence to elevate the profile of family and domestic violence and provide the stewardship needed within Communities and across government to deliver improved outcomes in the areas of primary prevention, Aboriginal family safety, victim survivor safety and perpetrator accountability.
The Office provides a central point for stakeholder engagement and sits alongside the Specialist Child Protection Unit and the Office of Disability. It leads family and domestic violence strategic policy and planning, including the implementation of Path to Safety: Western Australia’s Strategy to Reduce Family and Domestic Violence 2020-2030.
Summary of consultation
Our consultation process builds on what we have already heard from stakeholders through consultations for Path to Safety, the Aboriginal Family Safety Strategy, new family and domestic violence women’s refuges and One Stop Hubs.
In June and July 2021, Communities provided an opportunity for feedback on the Consultation Paper to establish an Office for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence. A total of 28 written submissions were received, including 20 responses from the community sector and individuals, and eight from WA Government agencies. These submissions were supplemented with face to face engagement using existing forums including the Path to Safety Steering Group.
The engagement process provided a formal opportunity for people to share their views on:
- the role of the Office
- new ways of working
- what effective leadership and governance looks like
- its role in supporting Aboriginal family safety, and
- how the Office should intersect with areas of family, domestic and sexual violence prevention and gender equality
Collated feedback and key themes that we heard throughout the consultation can be viewed in the Consultation Summary Report.
Thank you to everyone who offered their views and ideas.
Outcomes of consultation
Feedback from the consultation process informed the structure, function and design of the Office.
Vision
To elevate the profile of family and domestic violence and provide the stewardship needed within Communities and across government to deliver improved outcomes in the areas of primary prevention, Aboriginal family safety, victim survivor safety and perpetrator accountability.
Key functions
- Co-design, collaboration and stakeholder engagement
- Strategic policy development and delivery
- System stewardship and reform
- Improving family and domestic violence practice at Communities
Initial structure
A small and dynamic team comprising focus areas in:
- System reform, innovation and practice, and
- Family and domestic violence strategy
The team may have scope to expand as it becomes established and will co-locate with sector and academic expertise where possible.
Outcomes
The short-term outcomes the Office will contribute to are:
- Efforts to coordinate family and domestic violence responses are focused, coordinated and collaborative
- The profile of family and domestic violence within the Department, the sector and the community is elevated and informs Government strategy and investment
- Innovation is fostered and service delivery in family and domestic violence is transformed to meet the needs of women, children, families and communities
The Office will contribute to the following long-term outcomes:
- Women and children are safer and supported to recover and thrive
- Voices of Aboriginal people, young people and communities are strengthened and empowered to generate local solutions to respond to family violence and strengthen family safety
Stay in touch
To receive updates about the Office or for more information, please provide your name and preferred email contact to OfficeforPreventionofFamilyandDomesticViolence@communities.wa.gov.au.
