- Workforce Development
- Develop a family and domestic violence workforce capability framework
- Establish a family and domestic violence workforce entity
At a glance
A skilled and knowledgeable workforce is fundamental to achieving a coordinated and collaborative response to family and domestic violence.
The State Government has delivered two key reform actions to better equip the workforce with the skills and knowledge they need to deliver safety-focused, evidence-informed and culturally appropriate responses to victim-survivors and users of violence.
Family and Domestic Violence Workforce Entity (Entity)
The Entity is being delivered by the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing in partnership with Stopping Family Violence, the Council of Aboriginal Services WA (CASWA), Aboriginal Health Council WA (AHCWA), Community Skills WA and Professor Donna Chung. WorkUp is also providing guidance to support establishment of the Entity.
The Entity will develop and support the family and domestic violence sector’s diverse workforce at the individual, organisational and system level to fulfil its roles and responsibilities in responding to and reducing family and domestic violence in Western Australia. It will have five core functions:
- setting the workforce standard
- undertaking strategic workforce planning
- building the capability of workers and organisations
- supporting shared stewardship for the broader workforce
- monitoring and uplifting practices towards the standard
The State Government committed $6 million over three years (from 2025-26) to establish and operate the Entity.
Family and Domestic Violence Workforce Capability Framework (Capability Framework)
The Capability Framework describes the roles and responsibilities, capabilities, knowledge and foundational skills required to appropriately engage with victim-survivors, people using violence and other stakeholders in the family and domestic violence system. It aims to inform what capabilities (and the levels of expertise within those capabilities) are required for the family and domestic violence workforce – which it organises into the specialist, response and broader workforces – to support safe and appropriate responses to family and domestic violence.
The Workforce Capability Framework outlines six domains, each contributing to positive outcomes for victim survivors in a distinct and meaningful way:
- Understanding of the FDV context, nature and drivers
- Safe and informed responses across early intervention, response, and recovery and healing
- Culturally safe responses for Aboriginal people
- Sustainable and evidence-based FDV practice
- Collaborative and integrated ways of working
- Inclusive and equitable FDV responses
The Department of Communities has developed the Capability Framework in consultation with stakeholders across the government and community sectors, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
The impact
The Capability Framework and Entity will create a coordinated, system wide approach to workforce development that directly improves the safety, wellbeing and service experiences of victim survivors.
By setting clear capability expectations and overseeing training, quality assurance and professional standards, the Entity will reduce fragmentation across Government and community services and lift the overall quality and cultural responsiveness of support available across the State.
These initiatives will lead to more consistent, timely and effective responses to family and domestic violence, ensuring people receive the right support wherever they seek help.
By embedding shared standards and strengthening workforce capability, the Capability Framework and Entity will help deliver a more connected, confident and accountable system – one that prevents harm earlier, responds more effectively when violence occurs and, ultimately, contributes to safer outcomes for families and communities across Western Australia.
Specific ways by which the Capability Framework and Entity will strengthen worker capability across the workforce include:
- improving their ability to recognise and assess risk, enabling earlier identification of harm and more accurate, safety focused decision making
- embedding trauma and violence informed practice, giving workers the skills to respond consistently, safely and with validation while engaging people using violence in ways that reinforce accountability
- supporting culturally led, community driven approaches, equipping workers to create environments where Aboriginal families feel respected, understood and supported
- lifting practice quality through evidence based, reflective and wellbeing focused approaches, helping workers deliver more reliable, high quality support
- strengthening collaboration across services, enabling seamless coordination and reducing the burden on workers navigating complex systems
- removing barriers and tailoring responses for diverse groups, giving workers clearer guidance to provide equitable, appropriate support to all people experiencing violence
- supporting workers through development opportunities, direct training and capability building
Strengthening the family and domestic violence workforce through the Entity and Capability Framework will directly enhance outcomes for victim survivors by:
- ensuring earlier, more accurate identification of risk, leading to faster access to safety focused support
- providing consistent, validating and safe responses, reducing traumatisation and increasing trust in services
- creating culturally safe pathways, particularly for Aboriginal victim survivors, who will experience more respectful and community aligned support
- delivering more reliable, high quality assistance, regardless of where or how people seek help
- enabling smoother, safer pathways through the system, with fewer repeated disclosures and more coordinated care
- improving accessibility and equity, ensuring diverse groups receive support that meets their needs and circumstances
Key achievements
Workforce Capability Framework
The consultation process engaged over 130 stakeholders from 72 organisations across three phases of development.
The Capability Framework was endorsed by the State Government and released along with the announcement of the contract award for the Entity in January 2026.
Workforce Entity
- Consultations were held with stakeholders from across the government and community sectors, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, to inform development of the Entity’s Operating Model
- The Entity’s Operating Model was developed and released by Government in July 2025
- From July to December 2025, a rigorous procurement process was undertaken to procure the lead service provider
- In January 2026, the contract to deliver the Entity was awarded to the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing, working in partnership with Stopping Family Violence, Council of Aboriginal Services WA (CASWA), Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA), Community Skills WA and Professor Donna Chung
Success factors
The factors that have contributed to the successful progression of these initiatives include:
- extensive consultation throughout the development of the Capability Framework and Entity Operating Model with the Government, the community services sector and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
- consultations informed an understanding of the workforce development landscape and the challenges facing the family and domestic violence workforce
- expert advice and input from the Workforce Development Program Working Group (comprising government and community sector representatives) throughout the development of the Capability Framework and Entity
- widespread support across government gained through the Workforce Development Program Working Group ahead of endorsement by the Implementation Oversight Group and Government
- an extended procurement timeframe for the Entity to allow consortiums to be formed and reflected in submissions
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