- Third progress report on implementation of Cook Labor Government's family and domestic violence (FDV) system reform plan released
- Report shows key initiatives adopted to strengthen WA's FDV response system
- System reform plan outlines clear way forward to improve the way agencies and organisations work together to respond to FDV
- Part of government's priority to support safe and inclusive communities
The Cook Labor Government is continuing to make significant progress in its commitment to strengthen and reform Western Australia's family and domestic violence (FDV) response system.
Key achievements of the government's Family and Domestic Violence System Reform Plan have been outlined in a third progress report.
The plan sets a five-year strategy, from 2024 to 2029, to establish a service system response that is collaborative, connected and organised around victim-survivor safety, recovery and re-establishment.
Progress on key reform actions for the eight-month period from 1 May 2025 to 31 December 2025 include:
- work to establish the Family and Domestic Violence Workforce Capability Framework and Family and Domestic Violence Workforce Entity, to boost training and professional development to strengthen frontline responses to FDV;
- work to develop new Information Sharing Guidelines to support better information sharing with existing legal frameworks;
- progress on the Common Risk Assessment Risk Management Framework and the Aboriginal Family Violence Risk Assessment Tool to provide structured approaches for identifying, assessing, and managing FDV related risks;
- development of a practical self-assessment tool to help services strengthen workforce capability and risk management and guide effective implementation;
- expansion of Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams (FDVRTs) to seven days per week operations in regional WA; and
- embedded eight adult community corrections staff into FDVRTs across regional WA.
Also included in the report is the final operating model blueprint for the Central Information Point which will enable information sharing, as well as a commitment to explore an online reporting scheme.
While a disclosure scheme was not supported by the evidence, an online reporting scheme may provide an additional victim-led, trauma-informed option to access justice support in the FDV response system for victim-survivors who might otherwise not seek help.
Previous achievements of the System Reform Plan include the establishment of a Lived Experience Advisory Group as well as significant recruitment and onboarding of family safety officers to FDVRTs across WA.
Alongside the implementation of reform actions, the Cook Labor Government announced a new $109.9 million funding package in December 2025 focused on supporting and keeping victim survivors safe by expanding crisis accommodation, strengthening frontline teams and raising community awareness.
It takes the total government investment in preventing and addressing family and domestic violence to more than $700 million since 2017.
Read the report here: www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/progress-and-impact-of-the-family-and-domestic-violence-system-reform-plan
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to taking action to stop family and domestic violence, supporting victim-survivors and holding perpetrators to account as part of our priority to build safe and inclusive communities.
"The System Reform Plan sets out an unprecedented five-year program of reform for responding to family and domestic violence in Western Australia.
"The plan aims to create a more unified and integrated system and service response that is easier for victim-survivors to navigate, and more effective at managing risk posed by perpetrators.
"It is about a clear way forward to improve the way our agencies and organisations work together to respond to family and domestic violence."
Comments attributed to the Attorney General Dr Tony Buti:
"Investigating different ways for victims to disclose abuse while also getting help is part of broader system reform.
"We are continuously monitoring the evidence to ensure our response achieves the right outcome for each victim and a decrease in FDV overall in the community.
"The Commissioner for Victims of Crime's preliminary work indicates an online reporting scheme could have merit and we are now exploring that."
Comments attributed to the Commissioner for Victims of Crime Kati Kraszlan:
"The system reform plan is about changing how we respond to family and domestic violence, so it works for more victim survivors.
"Exploring disclosure alternatives is one way we can remove barriers and reach people who might be currently missing out on help, and ensure safety, support, and choice are at the forefront of our response to family violence."
As stated by Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing chief executive officer Dr Alison Evans:
"If we are to truly achieve system reform and provide a safe system for victim-survivors, we must be guided by the evidence, even when it takes us in directions we didn't first expect.
"Current research calls to investigate alternative evidence-based policies and practices that are likely to be more effective in achieving the objective of early intervention and enhanced safety for victim-survivors.
"Alternative reporting pathways can be a confidential, safe, accessible option without having to commit to a formal statement. It can increase access to support and safety, reduce the trauma of disclosure, and encourage earlier reporting of abuse, preventing escalation. If done well, it's an opportunity to document a history of coercive control."
