Today, the ACT Government has released the ACT Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Strategy 2026–2036, alongside its First Action Plan, which outlines the Government's long-term, strategic roadmap to prevent violence, improve responses and strengthen accountability in the ACT.
Domestic, family, and sexual violence is a national crisis, impacting families and communities at unacceptable levels. 42% of women report experiencing physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15. Among LGBTIQA+ people, 61% have experienced intimate partner violence over the course of their lifetime. The rate and severity of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children remains disproportionately high. This violence is highly gendered, with men responsible for the vast majority of violence against men, women, gender diverse people and children.
To support the first phase of work under the Strategy, the 2026–27 Budget provides $3.6 million over four years (from 2026–27) to progress foundational system infrastructure. This includes:
- Resourcing over three years to establish a domestic, family and sexual violence sector network to provide advocacy, coordination and workforce development for domestic, family and sexual violence services, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
- Funding to establish a dedicated Information Sharing Coordinator role to oversee the Information Sharing Scheme.
- 2 years of funding to operationalise the updated Risk Assessment and Management Framework through targeted training.
- Supporting Women's Health Matters to develop a model for primary prevention infrastructure in the ACT.
This strategy brings together the ACT Government's existing commitments, and future ambition into a single, coordinated whole‑of‑government and whole‑of‑community approach which includes contemporary understandings of domestic and family violence and best practice responses; the importance of distinct, trauma‑informed responses to sexual violence; the need to recognise children as victims in their own right; real accountability for people who use violence; and the role of harmful gender stereotypes as key drivers of violence.
To read the strategy in full visit: https://www.act.gov.au/open/the-act-domestic-family-and-sexual-violence-strategy.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister, Andrew Barr:
"This 10‑year Strategy sets a clear, unified direction for the ACT to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence and to better support victim survivors, with a strong focus on accountability and lasting cultural change.
"It explicitly recognises the disproportionate impact of violence on LGBTIQA+ people and commits to ensuring our responses are inclusive, culturally competent and tailored to the needs of all members of our community.
"I want to acknowledge Minister Paterson's leadership and deep commitment in bringing this work together, grounded in evidence, shaped by community voices, and focused on delivering real, system‑wide reform. Ending violence in our community will take all of us, and this Strategy provides the roadmap to drive that collective effort forward."
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, Dr Marisa Paterson:
"The ACT Government is backing this Strategy with targeted new investment to strengthen system foundations, alongside significant ongoing funding for frontline services that support victim survivors and work with people who use violence.
"Ending violence is a priority shared across all Australian governments, but responsibility does not rest with government alone. Achieving lasting change requires urgent, coordinated, and sustained action across the entire community – an ambition this action plan seeks to drive forward."
