Aboriginal people experience family violence at disproportionately high rates with devastating impacts on their own health and wellbeing, and on the health and wellbeing of their families and community. The contributing factors to family violence in Aboriginal communities are different to non-Aboriginal communities, and include colonisation, dispossession, intergenerational trauma and racism.
In December 2022, we launched the Aboriginal Family Safety Strategy 2022-2032 (the Strategy) as part of the State Government’s response to Outcome 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap – that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and households are safe. It is also a priority action of Path to Safety: Western Australia’s (WA) strategy to reduce family and domestic violence 2020–2030.
We understand that the outcome of Aboriginal family safety is underpinned by Aboriginal-led action and solutions and holds Aboriginal values, beliefs, culture, identity and knowledge systems at the heart of holistic responses.
