Domestic and family violence needs a stronger, connected system
Strong public services. Strong community partnerships. Safer families.
Domestic and family violence remains one of NSW’s greatest challenges.
Every day, victim-survivors rely on both government services and community organisations for safety, support and recovery.
Many receive outstanding support. But too many still struggle to navigate a fragmented system, repeat their story to multiple agencies or cannot access the specialist services they need.
The PSA believes government and community organisations must work together.
This campaign is not about Government versus NGOs.
Community organisations do extraordinary work. They provide specialist expertise, trusted local services and support that government cannot replace.
But government has responsibilities that only government can fulfil.
The NSW Government must provide strong statewide coordination, proper oversight and accountability, while ensuring essential government services are available wherever people live.
A stronger system saves lives
The PSA is calling for a government-led, community-supported domestic and family violence system in NSW.
We want the NSW Government to:
- Expand the Family Violence Service across NSW
Establish government-run Family Violence Services across NSW, particularly in regional communities with the greatest need. These services should work alongside NGOs, not replace them, coordinating support and connecting victim-survivors with the services they need. - Create an independent Domestic and Family Violence Regulator
Establish independent oversight to measure outcomes, identify gaps, set standards, share best practice and ensure public funding is delivering the greatest possible benefit. - Support strong community organisations
Provide stable, long-term funding that allows NGOs to retain skilled workers, plan services and continue providing specialist support in their communities. - Improve prevention and justice
Invest in prevention, evidence-based education, earlier intervention, specialist courts, behaviour-change programs and rehabilitation programs for people on remand for domestic violence offences. - Build one connected system
Bring together Police, Health, Housing, Child Protection, Education, Courts, Corrective Services, Family Violence Services and community organisations so victim-survivors receive coordinated support from first contact through recovery.
Government leads. Community organisations partner. Victim-survivors come first.
A Better Way Exists
Models like Mount Druitt Family Violence Service and Tasmania’s Safe at Home program show that coordinated, government-led services save lives.
This shouldn’t be the exception – it should be the standard across NSW.