Path to Safety

1 Path to Safety Western Australia's strategy to reduce family and domestic violence 2020-2030. 2020. Acknowledgement of traditional custodians of Western Australia The Western Australian Government proudly acknowledges the traditional custodians of country and recognises their continuing connection to their lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to aboriginal cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the courage and dignity of women and men who not only stand up and say no to violence but who take action to challenge violence and hold perpetrators accountable. 2 Family and Domestic Violence Strategy Contents Message from the Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Path to Safety : Western Australia's strategy to reduce family and domestic violence 2020 The call for 12.

2 Family and domestic violence in Western 14. Understanding family and domestic 18. The work so 20. Connecting our 22. Achieving the 24. Everyone has a 28. Focus Area 1. aboriginal Family 30. Focus Area 2. Act 34. Focus Area 3. Primary 42. Focus Area 4. System 46. On 51. 52. Family and Domestic Violence Strategy 3. Message from the Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Everyone should be safe in their own home. Always. Yet many Western Australians regularly experience family and domestic violence in their relationships, within the very walls that are supposed to help keep them safe. The stark reality is that Western Australia Since 2017, the McGowan Government has high rates of family and domestic has invested an additional $53 million to violence.

3 To address this situation, effective establish more services, new programs long term and systemic change is needed. and improve justice processes through our Stopping Family and Domestic Violence The importance of building safe and policy. We are determined to keep the focus respectful communities cannot be on reducing family and domestic violence overstated as we work to end the scourge because the costs are simply too high. of family and domestic violence across our State. Path to Safety outlines the steps we need to take to reduce family and domestic While personal and family relationships violence in WA. We recognise that current largely play out in private, the and past efforts to achieve this goal are consequences of family and domestic a critical stepping off point.

4 Our actions violence are often public matters. need to have a sustained focus on keeping Individuals, families, communities, survivors safe as well as accountability for workplaces and medical services also the damaging behaviour of perpetrators . carry the burden of assaults, absenteeism both at individual and system levels. Our from work, cumulative harm and in strategy is about guiding collective effort . the most tragic instances death. We across government, community and justice also know the devastating toll that family services and business. violence takes on aboriginal people, families and communities. Family Safety for aboriginal women, children and men is a particular priority, Path to Safety : Western Australia's in recognition that community controlled strategy to reduce family and domestic services and community led initiatives are violence 2020 2030, is our plan to address the foundation to support and healing for family and domestic violence through First Nations people impacted by family whole of community change over the violence.

5 We have already begun the work next decade. on developing a plan focused on aboriginal It is based on extensive consultation, family Safety to address family violence research and evidence, specialist expertise impacting aboriginal people, families and from the field and contributions from those communities. It will sit separate to and who have generously and courageously alongside Path to Safety . shared their personal experiences. Our strategy makes the case for change. 4 Family and Domestic Violence Strategy Hon Simone McGurk MLA. Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Western Australia has a long standing To stop family and domestic violence network of funded services with before it escalates, people need to be specialist expertise in supporting those able to recognise controlling behaviours.

6 Experiencing family and domestic Reinforcing a community wide stand point violence. Informed and knowledgeable that victims are never to blame for this first responders, such as police and violence and equipping future generations refuge teams, are critically important and with respectful ways to relate to others can save lives. is important. Our ambition is to foster a culture that stops family and domestic Business and industries' ongoing focus violence from happening in the first place. on Safety and productivity has led to Fundamentally, this work is about respect increased recognition of family and and valuing women and girls as equal domestic violence prevention as a partners.

7 It involves addressing the drivers workplace responsibility. More broadly, of family and domestic violence, joining improved community awareness and with other sectors and workforces and understanding of family and domestic expanding our interventions to address violence, who is affected and its inequality in all its forms. far reaching impacts are key to reducing violence at home. This awareness We dedicate this strategy to all of those can foster the conditions needed for who are surviving or have survived this survivors and perpetrators to seek help abuse in our community . It also honours with confidence, without shame and those who did not.

8 Before it is too late. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the development of Path to Safety . It will guide us in our determination to stop family and domestic violence. Family and Domestic Violence Strategy 5. Path to Safety : Western Australia's strategy to reduce family and domestic violence 2020 2030. Vision Goal Purpose To guide a A Western Australia To reduce family whole of community where all people live and domestic violence response to family and free from family and in Western Australia domestic violence in Western domestic violence Australia from 2020 2030. Guiding principles People in Western Australia Perpetrators are solely Effective solutions are should be safe in their responsible for their locally tailored.

9 Culturally relationships and in actions victims must safe and trauma informed their homes not be blamed The Safety and Women's Safety is linked Men and boys are wellbeing of victims to gender equality integral to the solution is the first priority Children and young people Everyone has a role in There is a no wrong exposed to domestic stopping family and door approach' to violence are victims domestic violence service delivery Implementation aboriginal Family Safety Action Plan 1 Action Plan 2 Action Plan 3. Responding to COVID-19, Building on Measuring impact, consolidating existing the foundations sustaining change efforts and partnering and innovating and planning for for change for progress the future Monitor, evaluate and review 2020 2022 2026 2030.

10 6 Family and Domestic Violence Strategy Our focus Outcomes aboriginal family Safety is supported and We will work with enabled by a dedicated strategy, co designed aboriginal people to and led by aboriginal people. strengthen aboriginal family Safety Adult and child victims are safe and supported to recover and thrive. Perpetrators are visible, held to account and We will act now to keep supported to change. people safe and hold People at risk of experiencing or using violence perpetrators to account are identified early and supported to access effective, evidence based interventions. Responses meet people's diverse and intersecting needs.