- Second progress report on the implementation of the State Government's family and domestic violence system reform plan released
- Plan sets out unprecedented five-year program of reform for responding to family and domestic violence
- South Australian Royal Commission intoDomestic,Familyand SexualViolence recommends South Australia adopt WA initiatives and responses
The second progress report on the Cook Government's family and domestic violence (FDV) system reform plan shows significant work is underway to better support victim-survivors.
The system reform plan, released in April 2024, sets out an unprecedented five-year program of reform for responding to family and domestic violence in Western Australia.
The progress report follows the release of the South Australian Royal Commission intoDomestic,Familyand SexualViolence last week, which recommended South Australia implement a series of Western Australian initiatives and responses.
This includes establishing a similar five-year system reform plan, FDV One Stop Hubs, a lived experience network, a risk assessment and management framework, and Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams.
Commissioner Natasha Stott Despoja said: "Western Australia's approach to integrated response and service delivery represents the best opportunity for South Australia...Western Australia's expanded response model represents a mature, evaluated and well-developed model".
The second System Reform Plan progress report, covering the second six months of implementation from November to April 2025, shows significant progress on the delivery of the reform actions outlined in the plan, including:
- establishment of a Lived Experience Advisory Group, with the appointment of 12 members from diverse backgrounds;
- work to establish a workforce entity which will better support sector agencies, organisations and workers;
- steps to improve information sharing with the completion of the design of the Central Information Point technical solution;
- commenced consultation on the draft Common Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework and the Aboriginal Family Violence Risk Assessment Tool;
- more than 100 referrals to the Thriving Families clinically led intervention pilot program;
- onboarded 12 family safety officers to Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams (FDVRTs) with a total of 28 out of 34 positions filled; and
- seven-day per week FDVRT operation over 2024 Christmas and 2025 Easter periods.
In addition to six-monthly progress reporting, an independent evaluation of the System Reform Plan has recently been awarded to Nous Group, for delivery by 2028. The evaluation will consider the progress and impact of Strengthening Response to Family and Domestic Violence System Reform Plan 2024 to 2029, with the scope of works including the development and piloting of a monitoring and evaluation framework.
The State Government has committed more than half a billion dollars since 2017 in new initiatives targeting prevention, early intervention and response including legislative reforms associated with firearms, electronic monitoring and coercive control.
The second progress report is available at: www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/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 addressing the scourge of family and domestic violence in our community.
"This means building an integrated family and domestic violence system where relevant information is shared so that the system can better identify, assess and manage the risk that perpetrators present to women and children's safety and wellbeing.
"The scale and breadth of this system reform plan is unprecedented and requires a significant degree of collaboration and co-ordination across multiple agencies and partners to ensure its success.
"It is about a clear way forward to improve the way organisations and the community work together to respond to family and domestic violence. Through this shared approach, we will have the best opportunity to make the biggest difference to the safety and wellbeing of victim-survivors and hold perpetrators to account.
"As with any reform program, change takes time. The system reform plan is focused on longevity and sustained change."
