Have your say on the next chapter of the Government’s plan to end violence against women and children

Minister for Finance
Minister for Women 
Minister for Public Service 
Minister for Government Services
Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher

Attorney-General
The Hon Michelle Rowland MP

Minister for Social Services
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP

Assistant Minister for Social Services 
Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence 
The Hon Ged Kearney MP

Joint Media Release

The Albanese Labor Government is today launching a major consultation to shape the next phase of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.

Since coming to Government, we’ve invested over $4.4 billion to take action to end family, domestic and sexual violence. This includes funding for 1,400 organisations that has directly helped around 450,000 people across Australia experiencing violence.

We are seeing good progress, but too many lives are still being taken, and too many people continue to live with violence every day.

Today, we’re opening consultation to help us develop the Second Action Plan to guide our collective efforts over the next five years.

The focus of the Second Action Plan will be on what works to deliver practical and systemic solutions that have the greatest impact, and the Government is committed to working with experts, stakeholders, victim-survivors and communities as we develop the next plan.

To help make it easier for hardworking frontline services and in recognition of people’s experience of different forms of violence, we will be simultaneously consulting on the related action plans for:

• Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices - Australia’s first dedicated plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children,
• Safe and Supported – the ten-year framework for protecting Australia’s children, and
• the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse.

We are designing these action plans to work together because we know people affected by violence often deal with many of these interconnected issues at the same time and people’s lives do not fit neatly into plans or systems.

Everyone is encouraged to have their say. We want to hear from a wide range of people across the community, including academics and experts, frontline workers, employers, community members, victim-survivors and children and young people.

More information on the Second Action Plan consultation is available on the Department of Social Services website and on the National Office for Child Safety website.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher:

“We know we need to work harder to end violence against women and children. We need to make sure our efforts are really having an impact, that we are responding to emerging challenges and evidence, and that we are working to prevent violence before it happens. This a national crisis, and we cannot afford to slow down.

“This consultation is about listening to victim-survivors, frontline workers, advocates and communities so this next phase of action is shaped by the people who know where change is needed most.

“We want to hear about practical action we can take to strengthen prevention, improve early intervention and make sure women and children can access the support they need when they need it and can live lives free from violence.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek:

“1 in 4 women and 1 in 14 men have experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15.

“We’ve taken important steps to drive change and made significant investments since coming to Government - but we know that for too many people, change isn’t happening fast enough.

“There are no simple answers, but the Second Action Plan will make sure we are unified in our goals across governments, communities, workplaces, schools, health and justice systems, and of course, frontline services.

“Most importantly, we want to listen. To survivors, to advocates and experts, and to communities - because your experiences and your voices are essential in shaping the changes that will truly make a difference.”

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland:

“Family, domestic and sexual violence is an abhorrent crime that has immeasurable lifelong impacts on victims and survivors, and we must keep working to eradicate it.

“Child sexual abuse affects more than 1 in 4 Australian children. No child should ever experience abuse, and the Albanese Government is committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of children.

“The Government is implementing ambitious, world-leading measures to prevent and respond to all forms of child sexual abuse, and this will continue as we move towards a robust Second Action Plan.

“We’re ensuring that victims and survivors only need to tell their story once, and we’re aligning our action plans across government because people’s experiences rarely fit into a single plan.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Ged Kearney:

“Ending family, domestic and sexual violence requires a systemic approach that recognises the long-lasting impacts violence has on women, children and communities.

“The voices of people with lived experience are central to the Second Action Plan. Their insights must continue to shape policies, services and prevention efforts that can drive meaningful change.

“The Second Action Plan is an opportunity to strengthen how we prevent and respond to sexual violence, by improving early intervention, supporting recovery and ensuring systems are trauma-informed and centred on the needs of victim-survivors.”

Support is available

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800respect website for online chat and video call services.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit the NTV website.

MensLine Australia Services are available if you are concerned about your wellbeing, relationships, and behaviour on 1300 789 978 or by visiting the MensLine Australia website.

Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Blue Knot Foundation provides short term counselling, support, information, and referrals to adult survivors of childhood trauma, including child sexual abuse, parents, partners, family and friends, as well as the professionals who work with them. It also provides support for people with experiences of institutional child sexual abuse seeking information about or applying to the National Redress Call 1300 657 380 between 9am-5pm or visit the Blue Knot Foundation website.