Reshaping our Approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander domestic and family violence
Responsible government
- Queensland
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children
- 9 Address both the immediate impacts and deep underlying drivers of family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through collective action with governments, service providers and communities.
What are we doing?
In May 2019, Queensland released Queensland’s Framework for Action – Reshaping our approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander domestic and family violence (the Framework). The release of the Framework demonstrates Queensland’s commitment to a new way of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities to address the causes, prevalence and impacts of domestic and family violence.
The Framework sets the tone for Queensland Government committing to work differently and in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards the vision of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities living free from violence and enabled and supported to undertake healing.
The Framework sets out strategies and actions to achieve the vision, including new actions to be delivered in line with the implementation timeframe of Queensland’s Third Action Plan. Importantly, it acknowledges the strengths within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to address domestic and family violence, and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to self-determination and have their voices heard by being involved in government policy development, systems change and service delivery reform with their communities.
What have we achieved so far?
The Framework is the result of targeted consultation and research with stakeholders including the former Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group, and the Queensland First Children and Families Board.
The delivery timeframe of the implementation plan has been revised in response to the impacts of COVID-19, particularly given in-person consultation planned with remote and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities has been postponed.
Work is progressing to engage with two remote and discrete communities to develop their domestic and family violence action plans, in alignment with the development of co-designed Local Thriving Communities Plans and community safety plans, following delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Group (Prevention Group) has been established to further drive activities under the Framework and ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at the forefront of decision-making by being actively engaged to provide oversight and advice in the design and development of future actions.
What is next?
Priority actions to be delivered by July 2022:
- The Framework will continue to be embedded in further action plans under the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016-26 and Our Way: A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2017-37;
- The principles and approach will be applied in all DFV service delivery targeted towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities;
- Work is underway to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to respond to domestic and family violence in partnership with communities and in line with the Framework. Despite delays and interruptions to the progress of a number of actions, implementation of actions under the Framework is on track for delivery by June 2022;
- Development of enhanced implementation activities will continue to be guided by:
- Meaningful consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations, including disability networks and services and the Prevention Group.
- Engaging in genuine co-design processes with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Ensuring practice is community-led and is culturally responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with disability.
- A dedicated evaluation plan will be developed to track progress and outcomes under the Framework.
What difference will we make?
- Create a genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, supporting the strength within communities to identify what is needed to address domestic and family violence and support healing;
- Shift community attitudes and behaviours, enhance service responses and strengthen justice responses, while empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and men to access support that meets their cultural safety needs;
- Support the strength within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to identify what is needed to address domestic and family violence in their local community;