The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women - Immediate Government Actions April 2009 

Violence against women can only be reduced through the joint action of the community, governments, services and the non-government sector.

The Council found that communities, governments and services working together can make a real difference to reducing violence. The Council recommended urgent action is taken to develop a National Primary Prevention Framework;⁹ support men who oppose violence against women;¹⁰ establish a Centre of Excellence for the Prevention of Violence against Women;¹¹ reduce overcrowding in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;¹² and include freedom from violence against women as a goal in the National Research Priorities.¹³

Governments must support the community to change the attitudes that support violence. The Australian Government, working with the States and Territories, is well positioned to support groups that oppose violence and improve the evidence of what works in changing attitudes and beliefs.

The Australian Government has already committed $1 million to the White Ribbon Campaign to support men taking action to oppose violence. This is helping men’s ambassadors to work in rural and remote communities. The Government provides $14 million per annum to community organisations that assist men improve their relationships with partners and children under the Men and Family Relationships Services. The Government also provides $4 million each year to organisations that support families affected by violence through the Specialised Family Violence Services Program.

Overcrowding in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities contributes to high rates of domestic and family violence. The Australian Government is investing $5.5 billion to reduce overcrowding, homelessness and housing shortages in remote communities as part of its commitment to close the gap between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians.

In addition, the Australian Government will invest $26 million for primary prevention activities to reduce violence against women. Work has already begun to improve the quality and uptake of respectful relationships programs for school age young people at a cost of $9 million over five years. The Government will also develop social marketing to change attitudes and behaviours which contribute to violence with an investment of $17 million over four years.

The Government will work with the States and Territories to establish a National Centre of Excellence for the Prevention of Violence against Women. The National Centre will deliver good quality and relevant research so that people working in the field have access to the best available evidence. This will build on the work of the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse and the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault.

The Australian Government will consider the place of violence in the National Research Priorities.

9. Action 1.1.1.
10. Action 1.3.1.
11. Action 1.1.2.
12. Action 1.1.3.
13. Action 1.5.1.