The National FVPLS Forum was established in May 2012 and is the National Peak Body for Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS) around Australia that provide culturally safe and holistic services to First Nations people affected by family violence – predominantly women and children. The National FVPLS Forum provides expert national policy advice in areas of policy, planning and law reform, and advocates for safety and justice for First Nations people affected by family violence.
Rates of violence against First Nations women are 34 times higher than other women in Australia, and up to 80 times in the worst areas of the country
Three (3) in five (5) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have experienced physical or sexual violence. First Nations women are also 34 times more likely to be hospitalized due to family violence than non-indigenous women and 11 times more likely to die due to assault (AIHW 2019 p.113). Family violence is also the primary driver of First Nations children into out-of-home care, and 88% of Aboriginal children in care have experienced family violence. Family violence has been associated with various negative health impacts, including higher rates of miscarriage, pre-term birth and low birthweight, depression, anxiety, suicide and other long-term health consequences for women and children (AIHW 2019 p.115).
The scale of the problem is much greater than this, however, because it is known that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are less likely than other women to report family violence or to seek support because of judgment, discrimination, shame or fear. The health and wellbeing of First Nations children depends upon the safety and resilience of First Nations women and families, so addressing family violence is a central priority in eliminating inter-generational disadvantage and discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
The National Forum works with its FVPLS members, communities, governments and other partners to raise awareness about family violence effecting First Nations people, and to advocate for culturally safe legal and other holistic responses to this issue. The National Forum provides a unified voice for its FVPLS members in areas of national policy, planning and law reform, and being a member of the national Coalition of Peaks, the National Forum is committed to the national Closing the Gap targets, including Target 13:
- “Target 13: By 2031, the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced at least by 50%, as progress towards zero.”
Read more about the Closing The Gap Targets and the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement.
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Djirra is a long-standing member of FNAAFV and an active supporter of the 16 Days of Activism.
Established in 2002, Djirra is a specialist Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation with over 22 years’ experience supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing ...family violence across Victoria – predominately women and their children.
Self-determination is the foundation of everything they do. Djirra delivers holistic, culturally safe, specialist family violence support, legal services and case management, alongside cultural and wellbeing workshops and Djirra’s signature early intervention and prevention programs Sisters Day Out®, Dilly Bag and Young Luv®.
They advocate for system-wide change to improve access to justice, eliminate systemic violence, and strengthen women’s resilience.
“For too long, governments have ignored and excluded the voices of Aboriginal women. The time is NOW for Aboriginal women to be listened to, resourced, and respected for our knowledge and experience. This 16 Days, and beyond, we urge you to get ACTIVE in your ACTIVISM and call on governments to invest in our self-determined solutions. In a post-referendum world, our self-determination is a non-negotiable. We have – and always had - the solutions to keeping our women safe. We know what works, and our expertise MUST be recognised and invested in,” - Antoinette Braybrook AM, Djirra CEO
#16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #GenderEquality #EndDomesticViolence #FVPLS #FNAAFV
Violence against women and girls comes in many forms, and as UN Women explains, it is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world.
As we continue to shine a light on the 16 Days of Activism campaign to end gender-based violence against women and girls on this seventh ...day of the campaign, we encourage you to broaden your understanding of this critical issue: https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/faqs/faqs-types-of-violence-against-women-and-girls
#16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #GenderEquality #EndDomesticViolence #FVPLS #FNAAFV
As we continue to spread the critical message of the 16 Days of Activism to end gender-based violence against women and girls worldwide, we look to our communities and the impacts that domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) has on First Nations women and children.
Did you know that ...approximately 90% of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is not reported*?
To learn more about how DFSV impacts our communities and how our sector is working to support and alleviate its prevalence, head to our website here: https://fnaafv.org.au/learn-about-family-violence/
#16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #GenderEquality #EndDomesticViolence #FVPLS #FNAAFV
*Australian Institute of Criminology - Non-disclosure of violence in Australian Indigenous communities.
NPY Women's Council (NPYWC DFSV) is based in the Northern Territory, and as a supporter of this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign and its focus on calling for investment to prevent violence against women and girls, the service is committed to “supporting the dreams of young women, the ...hopes of mothers, and the vision of grandmothers.”
“Investing in ACCO-led solutions means investing in localised long-term change. The most effective strategies are those which can amplify, extend and resource acts of resistance to violence that are already being enacted by individuals in the community. NPYWC’s service areas and programs are the result of multi-generational conversations about what safety means and in dedicated advocacy to make this vision a reality.” - NPYWC
Established in 1994, NPYWC DFVS provides holistic support including crisis response, advocacy, case management, primary prevention and early intervention to Anangu women. Their one-on-one support includes risk assessment and safety planning; court support; advocacy within the legal system such as liaising with police, corrections and referring to legal services; support to apply for DVOs/IOs/FVROs; and provision of legal information and education. In the 23-24 financial year, NPYWC DFVS supported over 580 women.
NPYWC DFVS also facilitates community development activities including community legal education delivered on Country, as well as healing and primary prevention activities led by our lived experience group.
#16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #GenderEquality #EndDomesticViolence #FVPLS #FNAAFV
Look out Canberra for the last Parliamentary sitting of 2024! What a great week we’ve had working with our members to highlight the valuable and innovative work of the Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services (FVPLS) sector. Members were able to share the challenges they face in delivering ...much-needed legal and holistic support to their communities, with the Attorney General, various Senators and MPs.
It was also great to hear from and meet with many allies and strong supporters of the FVPLS sector, who are committed to continuing to raise the profile of our members, advocate for change, and support the needs of our community.
Our delegation was also proud to participate in Djirra’s annual walk around Lake Burley Griffin as part of their ACTIVEism campaign designed to Aboriginal women’s voices and experiences as part of the international 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.
We’ve had a great week with some great work achieved so thank you to our members for your tireless work and for joining us to raise the profile of the sector and share your experiences, which are so valuable in bringing a real perspective to those who don’t get to see what you do. Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland, Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland, Djirra, Many Rivers, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service, SiSTAS, Warra Warra Legal Service
#16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #GenderEquality #EndDomesticViolence #FVPLS #FNAAFV
Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland (Maruma-li-mari) is one of 15 members of FNAAFV that work tirelessly to support their communities to live safely and ultimately free from domestic, family, and sexual violence.
Established in 2013, the Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland... (AFLSQ) is a non-for-profit legal service for Indigenous communities throughout Southern, Southwest, Central Queensland and Wide Bay and Burnett and specialises in Family Law matters, including Child Protection, Domestic and Family Violence, Parenting, Property, Divorce, as well as providing a wraparound support that includes Advocacy, Community Legal and Prevention Education and Counselling.
The service aims to understand and prevent violence to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families in Queensland to live safely within their homes and communities, and partners with other First Nations organisations to deliver the communities with culturally appropriate, high-quality services.
As a supporter of this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign and its focus on calling for investment to prevent violence against women and girls, AFLSQ CEO Kathleen Wincen says:
“It's time to invest in a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities thrive, supported by the wisdom, strength, and resilience of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) such as Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS).
Family and domestic violence and sexual violence (DFSV) for too long has devastated many Indigenous communities. However, traditional, non-Indigenous solutions have often fallen short in addressing these complex and deeply embedded issues.
ACCOs like FVPLS’s bring deep cultural understanding and locally tailored approaches that are vital for addressing DFSV effectively within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our organisations provide trauma-informed, culturally safe support systems that center around Indigenous practices, values, and leadership. ACCO-led initiatives not only address immediate safety concerns but also contribute to breaking cycles of violence by empowering community members with the skills and resources to support each other.”
#16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #GenderEquality #EndDomesticViolence #FVPLS #FNAAFV
As we mark day 2 of the international 16 Days of Activism, let’s take a moment to shine a light on the purpose of the campaign – to put an end to gender-based violence against women and girls.
#16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #GenderEquality #EndDomesticViolence #FVPLS #FNAAFV
Today marks the start of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign, which includes the United Nations and partners worldwide collaborating to advocate for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
This critical mission is at the heart of what the Family Violence ...Prevention and Legal Services does, and to play our part in the international campaign, we plan to showcase the work of our FVPLS members and amplify awareness of the devastating impacts of domestic, family, and sexual violence on our communities for the next 16 days. Our CEO Kerry Staines shares more about our mission in her video message below.
To learn more about this important movement, check out the UN Women's website here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/16-days-of-activism
#16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse #GenderEquality #EndDomesticViolence
The National Forum acknowledges and respects the traditional custodians whose lands we are fortunate to live and work on and we pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
