The Albanese Government is delivering a new, world-leading training and education package to enhance police responses to family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) across Australia, with at least 10,000 officers set to receive the training this year.
Developed as part of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022 - 32, the $4.1m Commonwealth-funded HEAR training package will be available to police officers in all states and territories.
The training is the first of its kind, relying on real case studies to focus on topics such as reducing instances of misidentification, increasing awareness of coercive control, improving recognition of technology facilitated abuse, and responding in a trauma-informed and victim-centred way.
The package also includes content on culturally safe policing including in First Nations communities, as well as trauma informed responses that minimise re-traumatisation.
Acknowledging the demands on police time and resources, especially in regional and remote locations, the training is offered face-to-face, face-to-screen and through online self-paced learning.
Face-to-face training includes immersive and interactive virtual reality cases drawn from lived experience, connecting theory with the realities of frontline policing. Face-to-screen and online self-paced training examines real case studies through 360-degree videos.
The training was developed in close consultation with FDSV victims and survivors, especially those who have interacted with police, and with FDSV experts including Rosie's Place. It also centres the voices and experiences of people with lived experience to emphasise the importance of the police response in keeping victims and survivors safe and bringing perpetrators to account.
The Attorney-General's Department also collaborated with a range of critical design and delivery partners, including the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency, Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, the Domestic Abuse Resource and Training Institute, MAXART, Tangentyere Council, Wordology, the eSafety Commissioner, and Monash University.
Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General, Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
"The scourge of family, domestic and sexual violence must be stamped out, and the role of our police and other frontline members is central to this effort.
"The Albanese Government is focused on ensuring that the right training is in place so that frontline responses to family, domestic and sexual violence are trauma-informed and victim-centred.
"This new, world leading training package - rolling out across every state and territory - is the first of its kind, integrating cutting edge technology with training modules developed in close collaboration with victims and survivors and other leading experts.
"This training is only possible because of the collaboration between the Commonwealth, and state and territory policing agencies, working together to best support victim and survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence."
