- More than $50m will be newly invested in Domestic and Family Violence initiatives
- Queensland's Plan for the Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women 2024-2028 is a blueprint to stop violence from occurring in the first place
- New Framework to strengthen and inform domestic and family violence (DFV) training across the State
The Miles Government will invest $55.95 million in DFV initiatives, including the rollout of a new plan designed to help end violence against women and the establishment of a peak body for the sector.
The initiatives are recommendations from The Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce Hear Her Voice Report One and build on the government's momentum to end domestic and family violence.
The five-year Plan for the Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women will aim to prevent violence from occurring in the first place to reduce the number of victim-survivors and the demand on the criminal justice and service system.
It's goal to prevent violence before it starts requires a whole-of-society approach in addressing the systems, structures, norms, attitudes, practices and power imbalances that drive this violence.
To support this work under this plan, the Miles Government has invested $16 million to:
- Fund community organisations in urban, rural and remote Queensland to lead community education projects focused on building and embedding positive and respectful relationships;
- Fund Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, to lead initiatives aimed at strengthening the factors that protect against domestic, family and sexual violence.
- Deliver and evaluate a state-wide peer-to-peer program providing training to young people to promote healthier masculinities, building healthy relationship skills and social connections;
- Establish a dedicated primary prevention team to lead and coordinate the plan's implementation;
The Miles Government can also announce Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) as the state's new peak body for the DFV sector.
In a $5.35m investment across five years, QCOSS will represent and advocate for the DFV sector, including shelters, women's health and wellbeing services and perpetrator intervention services. It will oversee its development into an independent stand-alone peak body.
Following new coercive control laws in Queensland, a comprehensive training and change management framework for frontline DFV organisations, community and legal organisations and government agencies has also been released.
It offers evidence-based information and resources to assist organisations deliver consistent trauma-informed and culturally appropriate DFV training to staff and volunteers.
The framework will be supported by a new $34.6m funding package that includes foundational DFV training modules, a state-wide Training Support and Coordination Service and evaluation – which will assist organisations in providing consistent training responses across the state.
Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D'Ath:
"The Miles Government is delivering significant domestic, family and sexual violence reform, which is backed by our $1.5 billion investment since 2015.
"This additional investment of more than $50 million builds upon the work we are doing to prevent and respond to DFV, but also seeks to break the cycle by targeting violence before it occurs.
"This five-year plan prioritises actions that address the drivers of violence against women and supports a safer Queensland that upholds the values of equality and respect for the entire community.
"Everybody has a role to play in shifting attitudes and behaviours that underpin violence against women, as we all deserve to feel safe from the threat or experience of domestic, family and sexual violence.
"I also welcome the release of the training and change management framework. This is about supporting government and organisations to become more DFV proficient, to provide trauma-informed responses to victim-survivors, and effectively and safely engage with people using violence.
"We also recognise the benefits of further unifying the DFV sector which delivers vital services across the state to help victim-survivors receive the support they need and hold perpetrators to account.
"I'd like to congratulate QCOSS for its commitment to lead the peak body initiative and look forward to seeing its work in this space, including in primary prevention.
"A united DFV sector is at risk under the LNP, which when last in government slashed $259 million out of community sector organisations, including Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence and Child Safety services.
"The LNP can't be trusted to support women, DFV services or the victim-survivors they help."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Council of Social Service CEO Aimee McVeigh:
"The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) is pleased to collaborate with the DFV sector to establish a dedicated peak body, ensuring a robust and independent voice.
"After more than 65 years serving as the peak body for the community services sector, QCOSS is well-equipped to support the development of a specialized peak for domestic and family violence services.
"During the interim, QCOSS will provide advocacy for DFV services and foster their participation in policy and legislative processes.
"The establishment of a DFV Peak Body enhances the sector's capacity to address domestic violence, support prevention efforts, and respond effectively to those affected.
"This important milestone reflects a key recommendation from the Women's Justice and Safety Taskforce, championed by the community services sector and DFV services.
"QCOSS commends the Miles Government for this progress and acknowledges the sector's confidence and support."
