Recommendation 1

The Commonwealth and state and territory governments agree that ‘ending gender-based violence, including violence against children and young people’ becomes an ongoing priority of National Cabinet.

(Responsible Commonwealth portfolio/s: Prime Minister and Cabinet, coordinating across all relevant portfolios)

Update as at 30 October 2025

On 6 September 2024, National Cabinet agreed that ending the national crisis of violence against women and children will remain an ongoing priority for National Cabinet. This is now listed as one of National Cabinet’s six priority areas.

Recommendation 2

The Commonwealth and state and territory governments to strongly embed and build on culturally-informed and place-based DFSV responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, families and communities, noting the significant work under way to develop a First Nations National Plan. This should include genuine and ongoing consideration of the evidence provided to the Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations women and children, and the commitments under Target 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

(Responsible Commonwealth portfolio/s: Social Services, Indigenous Australians, multiple)

Update as at 30 October 2025

On 6 September 2024, National Cabinet committed to maintaining a central focus on missing and murdered First Nations women and children and agreed that all government commitments on gender-based violence must explicitly consider the needs and experiences of First Nations people, and be delivered in genuine partnership with First Nations communities.

Development and release of Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (Our Ways) (lead agency: Department of Social Services)

• Australian governments, in partnership with the Our Ways Steering Committee, are developing Our Ways, informed by numerous government inquiries including the Rapid Review, Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children, the NT Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of 4 Aboriginal women in the Northern Territory, Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) report, and commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
• The Government anticipates Our Ways will be finalised soon.
• The Government has also engaged the Coalition of Peaks to establish the National Peak Body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety (National Peak Body). Once established it will play a key role in developing actions in partnership with governments.
• The National Peak Body’s role over the first 12 months will be to:
  • lead and advocate for the First Nations community-controlled family safety sector
  • coordinate national efforts towards the safety and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families, and communities, and
  • oversee implementation of Our Ways.

Response to the Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children (lead agency: National Indigenous Australians Agency)

• The Commonwealth Government’s response to the Senate Inquiry report on Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children was tabled on 25 November 2024, with drafting led by the National Indigenous Australian Agency. The Government is working with states and territories, and in partnership with First Nations people and the Coalition of Peaks, to ensure the Inquiry’s Report informs practical action. This includes through the development of Our Ways and the National Peak Body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety.

Recommendation 3

The Commonwealth and state and territory governments to prioritise the experiences of communities that are marginalised especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, migrant and refugee communities, women and children with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ people, older women and regional and remote communities in implementing all of the recommendations in this report. Addressing gender-based violence for communities experiencing intersecting forms of marginalisation lays the foundation for population-wide success. Where applicable, implementation should involve a genuine and sustained co-design approach to ensure that affected communities are identifying priorities of greatest urgency and value to them.

(Responsible Commonwealth portfolio/s: Social Services, multiple)

Update as at 30 October 2025

The National Plan recognises that violence against women and children impacts people in different ways, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, migrant and refugee communities, women and children with disabilities, and LGBTIQA+ people. This means considering diverse experiences of violence across all action to end gender-based violence, as well as taking a targeted approach where needed.

Developing a disability lens to First Action Plan (lead agency: Department of Social Services)

• Work is underway to develop a disability lens to the National Plan’s First Action Plan. This work is currently with the Disability Senior Officials Group and the Disability Reform Ministerial Council for final clearance and is anticipated to be finalised by early 2026. 

Leaving Violence Program (lead agency: Department of Social Services)

• As part of establishing the Leaving Violence Program (LVP), an Expert Advisory Panel that is connected to the sector and representing lived experience, has been engaged to ensure the program remains trauma-informed, culturally responsive, ethical and accountable, and continues to meet the needs of victim-survivors.
  • Since the launch of the program on 1 July 2025 to 31 August 2025: 12,307 applications have been submitted through the webform
  • 2,288 applications have been submitted via the phone
  • 45 applications have been submitted in person
  • 2,727 victim-survivors have accessed financial support through the program.
  • Access to the program is not dependent on visa status.