The Minns Labor Government is today launching its landmark strategy to respond to the perpetration of domestic and family violence in New South Wales.
Building Better Responses: NSW Strategy to Respond to the Use of Domestic and Family Violence 2026–2030 is NSW’s first dedicated plan aimed at disrupting domestic and family violence and focusing on those who cause or may cause harm.
The purpose of this strategy is to drive a whole-of-government, coordinated approach to respond to people who perpetrate domestic and family violence and integrates prevention, intervention, response and recovery efforts.
The Minns Government allocated $5 million in the 2024/25 Budget for perpetrator research and effective interventions. Part of that funding was to develop this Strategy, with an Action Plan for implementing it.
New South Wales is only the second state to have a strategy dedicated to addressing the use of violence and holding perpetrators to account, while prioritising victim-survivor safety.
In 2024, NSW Police recorded more than 100,000 domestic violence–related crimes, and 39 people in New South Wales were killed in domestic violence-related murders.
BOCSAR data reveals that in the last 10 years, domestic violence sexual offences increased by 103 per cent, domestic violence assaults by 31 per cent and breaches of Apprehended Violence Orders increase by 90 per cent.
The strategy focuses on stopping, disrupting and changing perpetrators’ harmful behaviours.
Actions under the strategy will be rolled out over time, including continuing work that is already underway, such as the Men’s Behaviour Change Program, strengthening services, building evidence on effective interventions, improving collaboration between services and evaluating progress.
The government consulted with more than 300 stakeholders, including people with lived experience, service providers, peak bodies, academics and regional communities in developing this strategy, with all calling for stronger, earlier action to prevent the use of violence.
The strategy highlights six priorities to better target the drivers of domestic and family violence:
- Supporting children and young people
- Preventing the use of domestic and family violence
- Strengthening interventions and behaviour-change options
- Ensuring all services and systems work together
- Building the workforce’s skills, resources and capacity to work with or refer people who use violence to appropriate services
- Strengthening data and evidence to guide best practice.
The strategy complements whole-of-government efforts already underway through the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022–2027 and Pathways to Prevention Strategy 2024–2028, creating a more holistic and evidence-driven response to domestic violence.
This includes being the first state in Australia to legislate a specific non-parole period for intimate partner homicide and the implementation of NSW’s first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy alongside record investment in crisis support.
To find out more, https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/service-providers/supporting-family-domestic-sexual-violence-services/domestic-family-sexual-violence-plans-and-strategies.html
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
“Domestic and family violence demands urgent action on all fronts. As a government we continue to ensure victim-survivors receive the crucial wraparound support they need when escaping violence.
“However, safety should not rest on the shoulders of those who have been harmed. More must be done to keep our communities safe.
“It is essential to prevent violence from happening in the first place, with work having already begun in primary prevention.
“This strategy is the next step. Real change requires addressing the perpetration of violence, to strengthen our responses to people who use domestic and family violence.
“There is no room for domestic and family violence in our community. The NSW Government is working to stop violence at its source so that everyone can live free of fear and violence.”
NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said:
“We need action on multiple fronts to address the shocking rates of domestic and family violence we see in NSW. Policies and programs focused on people who use violence are essential to improve accountability, prevent further violence, and keep women and children safe.
“This new strategy represents an important step towards a more holistic approach to addressing domestic and family violence that includes prevention, early intervention, response and recovery efforts. I welcome this strategy and believe it has the potential to make families and communities safer.”
CEO No to Violence Phillip Ripper said:
“No to Violence welcomes this historic moment in Australia’s efforts to end men’s use of family violence.
“The release of NSW’s first dedicated strategy to stop violence at the source is a landmark achievement by the Minns Government and a significant shift toward genuine prevention.
“By placing responsibility back on the source of harm, the Minns Government is leading the nation. We now call on the Commonwealth and all other states and territories to follow NSW’s lead and develop a coordinated national approach focused on people who use violence.
“We thank Premier Chris Minns, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison, and the NSW Cabinet for their leadership and commitment in delivering this important reform.”
CEO Domestic Violence NSW Delia Donovan said:
“We welcome the state’s first strategy dedicated to addressing people who use violence. It offers a significant opportunity to build a more effective, accountable and holistic approach to preventing and responding to domestic and family violence.
“As the strategy is implemented, it’s essential that the specialist domestic and family violence sector is recognised and engaged as a key expert in designing and embedding programs and responses for people who use violence. Genuine impact will also depend on meaningful and sustained funding to ensure that services are properly resourced to deliver the actions proposed and meet the strategy’s objectives.
“With these essential elements in place, this strategy has the capacity to drive long-term change, strengthen accountability, and ultimately contribute to a safer future for victim-survivors across NSW.”
Support:
For information on Men’s Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.