A new First Nations steering committee will advise the government on how it can best work to reduce rates of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
The steering committee, which will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, will specifically focus on advice relating to the development of the standalone First Nations National Plan to end violence against women and children. The plan addresses Target 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020-2030, which states the government’s goal to halve the rate of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children by 2031.
“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 for Social Services Amanda 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.”
In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are disproportionately impacted by family violence. They are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised and six times more likely to die from domestic violence, compared to non-Indigenous women.
The committee has a two-year term and is comprised of 12 prominent non-government First Nations representatives, 2 Commonwealth representatives, 8 state and territory representatives, as well as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner.
The federal government is partnering with SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children, an organisation that will support the development of the First Nations National Plan.
“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,” said SNAICC CEO, Catherine Liddle.
Linda Burney, Minister for Indigenous Australians, said the committee was one way the Albanese government was working to address the high rates of family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“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 non-government members of the First Nations steering committee are:
- Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AO, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and Chairperson of SNAICC
- Rachel Bruce, Operations Manager at Mura Kosker Society, Thursday Island
- 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
- Wynetta Dewis, Chair of the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum
- Rachel Dunn, Advocate for the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence in Tasmania
- Alicia Johnson, Senior Policy Officer at the First Peoples Disability Network
- Tess Moodie, victim-survivor and systematic change advocate for the prevention of gender-based violence in Tasmania and nationally
- Craig Rigney, CEO of the KWY Aboriginal Corporation
- Connie-Anne Shaw, After Hours Youth Worker at Tangentyere Council
- Shane Sturgiss, CEO of the BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation
- Associate Professor Hannah McGlade, School of Law, Curtin University
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au or text 0458 737 732.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au.
To speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.