Launch of ‘Time for Action’
May 2009

The National Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence Against Women
and their Children, 2009–2021

In May 2008, the Australian government set up an 11 member National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.

The National Council consulted with over 2 000 Australians via community consultations, public submissions, online surveys with victims/survivors and with perpetrators, expert roundtables, meetings with service providers and State and Territory governments.

An analysis of domestic violence laws and some aspects of sexual assault laws were undertaken, as well as an analysis of relevant policies, services, modelling costs of violence and market research on the effectiveness of respectful relationship education.

On Wednesday 29 April 2009, the Federal government launched ‘Time for Action’, the National Council’s Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, 2009–2021.

The report makes recommendations designed to tackle the unacceptable levels of sexual assault and domestic and family violence in Australia.

The report gives all governments and the community clear directions about helping Australian women live free of violence within respectful relationships and in safe communities.

The report contains recommendations for the Federal government to achieve its vision, in partnership with State, Territory and local governments.

The National Council has prioritised the actions for implementation across three year plans, with a recommendation to implement 20 immediately.

The Government referred the Time for Action report to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to consider issues relevant to States and Territories.  Within COAG’s ‘National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children’, primacy has been given to the needs of children who witness and experience family and domestic violence.

For more detailed information, all National Council reports are available on the Federal Office for Women website: www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/women

For more general enquiries relating to Western Australia, contact the Women’s Information Service (WIS): (08) 6217 8230
Email: wis@communities.wa.gov.au

For more specific enquiries relating to the National Plan of Action, the lead contact at the Office for Women’s Policy (WA office) is Carol Mitchell: (08) 621 78207
carol.mitchell@communities.wa.gov.au