Time for Transformational Change to Fight Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence in Australia
The Government has tabled the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission’s 2025 Yearly Report.
The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2025 Yearly Report, has been tabled in Parliament today, providing critical advice to government to ensure the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 (National Plan) delivers on its commitment to end gender-based violence within a generation by 2050. The Commission’s second report comes three years into the 10-year National Plan and identifies clear priorities for action designed to accelerate implementation of the National Plan.
Commissioner Micaela Cronin reinforced the pathway for ending gender-based violence exists.
“The evidence is clear, and our communities want to see real change. The question is whether we have the will to act differently.
“In 2024 the Prime Minister called violence against women a national crisis. Three years into the National Plan and I see a real sense of possibility, but we are at a crossroad, and we now need to act with urgency. The 2025 Yearly Report highlights where good work is being done and the foundations that have been invested in - critically, it also identifies the gaps that we urgently need to bridge.
“One of the Yearly Report’s key findings is that children and young people must be our priority and have a voice in shaping and implementing this plan.
“Prevention must begin in childhood. We must have a razor-sharp and united focus on addressing children’s and young people’s needs. This means centring what children and young people tell us they need and listening to them about their experiences of change as we implement,” said Commissioner Cronin.
The success of the National Plan to end violence against women and children by 2050 depends on the design, implementation, monitoring and review of the next Action Plan. The Commission recommends that the Commonwealth, with all states and territories, should immediately start developing the next Action Plan. This should be a live planning mechanism that brings coordinated and focused attention to agreed priorities.
The voices of those with lived experience will be fundamental to an effective Action Plan, and the Commission’s Lived Experience Advisory Council (LEAC) will lead engagement and evaluation framework development. Co-Chair, Alison Scott said that domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) is a whole of community issue, and that communities hold the solutions.
“It is so important to reflect, learn and keep improving as we battle this crisis, it’s time to challenge ad-hoc approaches that risk token consultation. The voices of those with lived experience must be heard and their wisdom and bravery are an incredibly important part of how the Commission moves forward,” said Ms Scott.
The report emphasises five critical insights that must shape the next Action Plan: prevention must begin in childhood; the most effective solutions come from those most affected; systems must stop working in silos; institutions must move from control to care; and safety must be a right, not a privilege.
"We need to invest in creating the conditions for a generation that grows up knowing love without fear, identity without shame and power without violence," Commissioner Cronin said.
The Commission has also advised government to:
- Establish a DFSV Youth Advisory Council
- Implement a national, coordinated approach to engaging men and young boys
- Embed shared decision making for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Prioritise learning from the experience of people with a disability, older women and LGBTQI+ and multicultural communities
- Develop a road map for implementing Australian Law Reform Commission justice responses to sexual violence recommendations
- Establish a Commonwealth implementation and delivery mechanism to drive cross government delivery and coordination
- Undertake systematic mapping of recommendations across all reviews and inquiries, and alignment across all related national plans
- Develop a national funding mapping framework to increase visibility and improve planning
- Invest in workforce development
Commissioner Cronin expressed cautious optimism about the current environment for change: "We have political will across all governments. We have a national focus through National Cabinet and leadership from the Women and Women's Safety Ministerial Council. We now need a razor-sharp focus on coordinated, accountable and agile delivery."
The Commissioner called for public responses from all agencies to the report's recommendations, noting that the Commission will report on progress in next year's report to Parliament.
"Australia needs transformational action now to end violence against women and children," Commissioner Cronin concluded. "The question is not whether we can create a future where all Australians live free from violence – when it has become rare, brief and non-recurring. The question is whether we choose to.”
The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2025 Yearly Report can be found here.
Media contact
Simon Kinsmore
+61 455 949 554
media@dfsvc.gov.au
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732.
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 www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, just a safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
