Expert First Nations Steering Committee to advise on reducing rates of family violence and abuse

The Albanese Labor Government is taking further action to reduce the rates of family violence and abuse against First Nations women and children.

A new First Nations National Plan Steering Committee announced today will provide advice on the development of the standalone First Nations National Plan to address Target 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020-2030.

Target 13 states that: By 2031, the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced by 50 per cent, as progress towards zero.

Led by two Co-Chairs, the Steering Committee will consist of 12 non-government First Nations representatives, two Commonwealth representatives, eight state and territory representatives, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner.

The Steering Committee’s role will ensure the proper, efficient, and effective performance of the Plan, inform and guide consultation, and identify and engage widely with stakeholders across Australia across its two year term.

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, highlighted the need for culturally appropriate and independent advice to create systemic change when it came to family violence and abuse experienced by First Nations people.

“The First Nations National Plan will guide a whole of society approach to addressing the unacceptable rates of family violence and abuse against First Nations women and children,” Minister Rishworth said.

“The Steering Committee will work in genuine partnership with all levels of government to embed the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the First Nations National Plan.

“The appointment of this committee progresses our Government’s work to end violence against women and children in Australia in one generation.”

First Nations Australians are disproportionately impacted by family violence and abuse. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised and six times more likely to die from domestic violence than non-Indigenous women in Australia.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, said addressing the high rates of family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is a priority for the Government.

“The members of the First Nations Steering Committee bring an enormous depth of experience and expertise and will play an important role in providing guidance and advice.

“This is a demonstration of the Albanese government’s commitment to working in genuine partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to address significant challenges, including family violence and abuse”.

The 12 non-government First Nations members of the Steering Committee are:

• Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AO, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and Chairperson of SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children;
• Ms Rachel Bruce, Operations Manager at Mura Kosker Society, Thursday Island;
• Ms Papunya Connors, Team Leader at Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation;
• Professor Kyllie Cripps, Professor of Indigenous Studies and Director, Monash Indigenous Studies Centre, Monash University;
• Ms Wynetta Dewis, Chair of the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum;
• Ms Rachel Dunn, Advocate for the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence in Tasmania;
• Ms Alicia Johnson, Senior Policy Officer at the First Peoples Disability Network;
• Mx Tess Moodie, victim-survivor and systematic change advocate for the prevention of gender-based violence in Tasmania and nationally;
• Mr Craig Rigney, CEO of the KWY Aboriginal Corporation;
• Ms Connie-Anne Shaw, After Hours Youth Worker at Tangentyere Council;
• Mr Shane Sturgiss, CEO of the BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation;
• Associate Professor Hannah McGlade, School of Law, Curtin University.

The Government is partnering with SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children – who will provide Secretariat services to the Steering Committee, community engagement and drafting support for the First Nations National Plan.

SNAICC CEO, Catherine Liddle noted that as the national peak for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, many of SNAICC’s members have direct experience with domestic and family violence services.

“A focus of our approach will be to make sure the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are heard in the development of Australia’s first standalone First Nations National Plan to keep women and families safe,” Ms Liddle said.

The Steering Committee will meet for the first time today (Wednesday 24 January).

The First Nations National Plan will follow the foundations set in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023-2025, under the goals of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.