POLICY CONTEXT

Family and domestic violence is a multi-disciplinary problem, reflecting the impact these forms of violence can have on numerous aspects of both a person’s and a community’s health and wellbeing. The diversity of stakeholders and disciplines with an interest in the issue includes policy and research development and service delivery across health, welfare, community and justice services. Family and domestic violence is also an area which can overlap and interact with a range of other social issues, such as:

• social dislocation;
• socioeconomic status;
• the status of women in society;
• outcomes for children;
• the complexities facing populations such as some Indigenous communities, migrant communities, people with disabilities and older people;
• mental health issues;
• substance abuse;
• homelessness; and
• family conflict and breakdown.

In order to inform public comment and debate about FDV, and relevant policy initiatives including where best to focus activities along a continuum of prevention to intervention, both qualitative and quantitative data are required.

Each jurisdiction has its own laws and policies for responding to domestic violence, whilst the Australian Government takes a lead in developing national approaches to policy. It also sponsors interagency, and inter-state/territory cooperation in the development and implementation of best practice models for addressing and preventing domestic violence.

The Australian, state/territory and local governments all undertake policy and research development in relation to FDV in Australia. The states and territories are primarily responsible for the planning of crime prevention programs; law enforcement responsibilities in relation to policing and prosecuting domestic violence incidents; and direct service provision, such as specific services against domestic violence, child protection services, and planning and delivery of health, disability, and medical services. Local councils also play a lead role in reducing and preventing crime in their local communities, through programmes aimed to reduce the fear of crime and improve public awareness of crime prevention, and may include women’s safety initiatives, education programmes, and Community Safety Centres. Funding for these functions is received and distributed through arrangements with both State and Federal Governments.

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