OurAdvocacy - DVNSW - Domestic Violence NSW

DVNSW works on a range of advocacy and campaign priorities throughout the year. Scroll through to view our latest campaigns and projects.

Campaigns

**DVNSW Regional Forum Report – March 2022**
The Regional Forum was co-hosted by the NSW Country Women’s Association and well attended by members and guests with 65 attendees. Celebrating 100 years this year, the Country Women’s Association prioritise addressing domestic and family violence (DFV) in regional, remote, and rural communities and want to provide a voice for people. Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW) is the peak body for domestic and family violence services in NSW, representing over 125 specialist organisations.

**Policing of Domestic & Family Violence in NSW**
This report prepared by Domestic Violence NSW provides insights from specialist domestic and family violence in NSW. It was prepared in response to the 2021 audit of police responses to DFV undertaken by the Audit Office of NSW.

**DVNSW Members Experience of the Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) Program**
The Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) Program was welcomed by the sector upon its announcement in August 2021, as lack of access to funds is a key barrier that prevents victim-survivors from accessing safety and/or forces their return to unsafe situations. Timely access to these funds has the potential to prevent homelessness, reduce disability and injury and support families with vulnerable children. However, since the initial rollout of the pilot commenced in September 2021, there have been serious and ongoing concerns about the implementation of the program and the impact on victim-survivors trying to access the payment.

**Principles for Specialist Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Refuges in NSW.**
This is a short paper prepared by Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW) to inform policy decisions by the NSW Government. The paper is aimed to promote further research and consultation towards creating high quality policy framing for the 75 new refuges announced in October 2021.

2021 Covid Impact Report The impact of the 2021 Greater Sydney
COVID-19 lockdown on specialist domestic
and family violence services, and their clients

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign Each year, DVNSW supports locally-based 16 Days of Activism events and activities across NSW.

Nowhere to Go The benefits of providing long term social housing to women that have experienced domestic and family violence

NSW Women’s Alliance Nine-Point Plan to Address Sexual Violence The NSW Women’s Alliance seeks that the NSW Government commit to our nine-point plan to address sexual violence in New South Wales.

Uluru Statement of the Heart DVNSW has endorsed this statement which affirms that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been the sovereign nations in this country from ‘time immemorial,’ and that this sovereignty has never been ceded.

Equity Economics: Social Sector in NSW – Capitalising on the Potential for Growth Commissioned by the NSW Council of Social Service and other peak bodies, the report analyses job creation potential in the sector. It also suggests social services in NSW risk falling dramatically short of the population’s needs unless a major investment is made.

Overview: Regional Domestic & Family Violence Forum with CWA The roundtable highlighted a range of systemic issues and service gaps in supporting victim-survivors and responding to perpetrators of DFV in rural, regional and outer metropolitan NSW.

A Wave of Disadvantage Across NSW: the Impact of the COVID-19 Recession Commissioned by NCOSS and a coalition of peak bodies, ‘A Wave of Disadvantage Across NSW: the Impact of the COVID-19 Recession’ models the impact that rising unemployment will have on social disadvantage in NSW by June 2021.

Animals and People Experiencing Violence Nov 2020

Animals and People Experiencing Domestic and Family Violence (2020) This report highlights how the safety and wellbeing of animals and people experiencing DFV is interconnected. It recommends law, policy and program responses to improve support and remove barriers to their safety.

A Safer State (2015) The NSW Women’s Alliance launched A Safer State, a blueprint to end sexual assault and domestic and family violence in NSW. As a result, the government created the role of Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

A Safe State (2019) A Safe State has been jointly developed by the NSW Women’s Alliance. Together, we’ve made 49 recommendations over six priority areas for law and policy change to prevent and end sexual, domestic and family violence.

Path to Nowhere (2018) The Path to Nowhere report examines the issues for women on temporary visas experiencing violence and their children.

Projects

Safer Homes

Funded by the Department of Communities and Justice, the purpose of the Safer Homes project is to increase access to safe and sustainable private rental tenancies for women and children escaping Domestic and Family Violence. The aim is to achieve this through the promotion of mutually beneficial collaboration between DFV support services and real estate agents, supported and enabled by increasing knowledge, fostering attitudinal change and adopting good practice.

Submissions

DVNSW prepares submissions to State, Territory and Federal Governments across Australia and policy and law makers including National Inquiries and Commissions. You can view our most up to date submissions below.