The NSW Government has announced a $230 million domestic violence prevention and support package.

In a substantial move to combat domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) across the state, Premier Chris Minns has unveiled a new initiative aimed at bolstering support for victim-survivors and reducing incidents of violence. 

The funding, allocated over the next four years, should allow a significant expansion in the state's approach to tackling DFSV.

“Too many lives have been lost and too many families have been broken because of domestic and family violence. It is a blight in our communities, and it is a problem that deserves our government’s concerted attention and response,” Minns said. 

The money is to support a multi-faceted approach that includes crisis response, justice system improvements, early intervention, primary prevention, and sector strengthening. 

Key components of the funding package include:

  • Crisis Response: $48 million is dedicated to the statewide rollout of the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program and expansion of the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS). The SHLV program focuses on enabling women and their children to stay safely in their homes post-separation, while IDFVS provides comprehensive case management across various agencies.

  • Justice System Enhancements: A total of $71 million will be directed towards improving bail laws, enhancing domestic violence support within the justice system, and supporting the Domestic Violence Death Review Team. This includes ongoing corrective programs for offenders to reduce reoffending rates.

  • Early Intervention: The package earmarks $48 million for specialist workers to support children accompanying their mothers to refuges, reflecting a holistic approach to family safety and recovery.

  • Primary Prevention: $38 million will fund the implementation of the state's first Primary Prevention Strategy, which includes educational initiatives and community grants aimed at preventing domestic violence before it occurs.

  • Sector Support: An additional $8.6 million will enhance workforce training and support the expansion of Domestic Violence NSW, the peak body for specialist DFSV services in NSW.

Attorney General Michael Daley has suggested there will be a further $45 million investment to adjust bail laws and improve justice system responses to domestic violence.

The announcement comes within days of concerning comments by Federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, who says states and territories have only filled 30 frontline gendered violence roles from a target of 352.  

A federal government program set up last year provides $169 million over four years to fund 500 new frontline workers to assist people who had experienced family, domestic or sexual violence.

“We've got an agreement with the states. We made the payments, I think, last June and at the end of last year,” Gallagher said. 

“So the money is there. I think the states' view is they're having issues with recruiting. But [Minister for Social Services] Amanda Rishworth has been working with her state and territory colleagues to really try and get these workers in place as soon as possible.

“They've signed on to [an] agreement to have the vast majority of them employed in the first half of this year, but they are saying that staff and recruiting staff is an issue.”

For those affected by domestic, family, or sexual violence, support is available 24/7 at 1800RESPECT.