A Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce (the Taskforce) was convened between September 2023 and March 2024 to help guide the State's efforts to address family and domestic violence. Informed by advice from the Taskforce, the Government has agreed to a program of system reform and committed $96.4 million in vital services and supports.
About the Taskforce
The Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce was a key request of the family and domestic violence sector and lived experience advocates during the Domestic Violence Summit in August 2023.
Announced on 12 September 2023, with its first meeting on 19 September, the Taskforce was convened to consider and provide advice about reforms to strengthen responses to family and domestic violence including to oversee the design of a lived experience advisory group.
Membership
Find out more information about the Taskforce members:
Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce members
Taskforce activities
The Terms of Reference provided that the Taskforce consider and provide advice about reforms to strengthen responses to family and domestic violence, through four related functions:
- Identify additional strategic areas for system reforms, including minimising barriers that prevent results, like victim-survivor safety and perpetrator accountability, as well improving cross system coordination and collaboration.
- Consider, prioritise and advise on responses to key sector priorities as outlined at the August summit.
- Identify options to strengthen case coordination across Government through improved information and data sharing.
- Advise on and oversee the consultation process to establish the lived experience advisory group.
The initial two meetings of the Taskforce on 19 September and 24 October, focused on ‘current state’ including evidence for what works, current investment in family and domestic violence services, and key issues or gaps. These initial meetings prompted Taskforce members to provide advice about gaps in regional services, opportunities for further investment in prevention and the importance of supporting and funding Aboriginal-led responses to family violence experienced by Aboriginal people.
Informed by the feedback of the Taskforce, on Tuesday 28 November 2023, Premier Roger Cook announced $72.6 million in new funding to strengthen responses to family and domestic violence.
Given the importance of integrated responses to family and domestic violence, system reform became the focus of the remaining four Taskforce meetings, which included:
- particular attention on ways to improve victim-survivor experiences of engaging with the service system;
- improved coordination of effort between agencies; and
- greater effectiveness of responses and interventions for creating safety and managing risk.
To inform this work, a series of stakeholder engagements were held, including:
- Five workshops focused on Aboriginal family safety with Aboriginal people from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and lived experience advocates and well as from across Government.
- Four system reform workshops with Government, community sector and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
- Workshops and bilateral meetings with senior representatives from Government agencies and with non-Government Taskforce members.
The key outcome of the Taskforce is the Family and Domestic Violence System Reform Plan (the System Reform Plan). The Government has announced a further $96.4 million to support implementation.
System Reform Plan
The System Reform Plan envisages a service system response that is collaborative, connected and organised around victim-survivor safety, recovery, and re-establishment. It builds on the strengths and resources of existing services and responses to respond to family and domestic violence more effectively in the Western Australian community.
The System Reform Plan is organised around four key pillars of risk assessment, risk management, information sharing and workforce development. By taking action across these four areas, we will improve the way victim-survivors access and navigate supports and services including by integrating the strengths and resources of multiple agencies and sector partners to deliver a more seamless, efficient, effective, and responsive network of services.
A copy of the System Reform Plan can be viewed here.
A one-page version of the document can be located here.
Lived Experience Advisory Group
A priority of the Government and the Taskforce has been establishment of a lived experience advisory group (LEAG) that provides opportunity to centre the voices of victim-survivors in policy development and service design. On 1 December 2023, Kwobap Consultancy was engaged to assist with design of the LEAG model, including its purpose, role, membership criteria, and operational processes. Between December 2023 and February 2024 they engaged over 500 people across the state. The proposed model for the LEAG is currently being considered by Government.
