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The NSW Government has unveiled a landmark strategy aimed at tackling the root cause of domestic and family violence (DFV) by focusing specifically on those who perpetrate it.

Building Better Responses: NSW Strategy to Respond to the Use of Domestic and Family Violence 2026–2030 is NSW’s first dedicated plan to disrupt DFV by driving a whole-of-government, coordinated approach across prevention, intervention, response, and recovery efforts.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison emphasised that safety cannot rest solely on victim-survivors.

“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,” Harrison said.  She continued, “[t]he NSW Government is working to stop violence at its source so that everyone can live free of fear and violence.”

The launch comes amid concerning data revealing the escalating crisis in NSW. In 2024, NSW Police recorded over 100,000 domestic violence-related crimes, and tragically, 39 people were killed in domestic violence-related murders. Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data shows that over the last decade, domestic violence sexual offences surged by 103 per cent, domestic violence assaults rose by 31 per cent, and breaches of Apprehended Violence Orders increased by 90 per cent.

Phillip Ripper, CEO of No to Violence, called the release a “historic moment in Australia’s efforts to end men’s use of family violence.” He praised the Minns Government for “leading the nation” and shifting responsibility back to the source of harm.

“It’s an encouraging direction that strengthens national momentum and signals the kind of coordinated action needed across every state and territory,” said Ripper.

The new strategy specifically targets stopping, disrupting, and changing perpetrators’ harmful behaviours while maintaining a priority on victim-survivor safety. NSW is only the second state in Australia to adopt a strategy dedicated to holding perpetrators to account.

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner, Dr Hannah Tonkin, welcomed the strategy, noting that policies focused on people who use violence are “essential to improve accountability, prevent further violence, and keep women and children safe.”

Delia Donovan, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, offered support, highlighted that the strategy “offers a significant opportunity to build a more effective, accountable and holistic approach.” She stressed the need for meaningful and sustained funding to ensure services are properly resourced to deliver the proposed actions and achieve long-term change.

“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,” said Donovan.

The Minns Government allocated $5 million in the 2024/25 Budget for perpetrator research and effective interventions, which partly funded the strategy’s development and its accompanying Action Plan.

Actions will roll out over time, building on existing initiatives such as the Men’s Behaviour Change Program, strengthening services, and enhancing inter-service collaboration.

The strategy outlines six key priorities to better target the drivers of DFV:

  • 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
  • Strengthening data and evidence to guide best practice

The plan complements existing government efforts, including the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022–2027 and the Pathways to Prevention Strategy 2024–2028. NSW was the first state in Australia to legislate a specific non-parole period for intimate partner homicide.