Outcomes Report: Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices
Executive summary
The Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to end Family, Domestic, and Sexual Violence (Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices) is the result of decades of advocacy and work from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, communities and services to address the complex issue of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV). These voices have long been calling for a national plan dedicated to the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
This standalone plan will be the first of its kind and is intended to increase the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. It will do this by setting the future direction of all government action in the FDSV service system under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (National Agreement), primarily Target 13. Target 13 states that by 2031, the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced by at least 50%, as progress towards zero.
This report shares findings from the engagements held for the development of Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices. Between August 2024 and January 2025, SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children held engagements with communities and organisations to inform the development of the Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices. This included women with lived experience of FDSV, children and young people, ACCOs and non-ACCOs in the FDSV and related sectors, peak bodies, governments, researchers and experts, and the public through a public submissions process. The engagements sought to understand priorities for Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices, and built off the learnings from engagements for the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32 and the related Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023-25.
The engagement process included Knowledge Circles for women with lived experience of FDSV, online group and individual engagements for organisations across jurisdictions and sectors, conference activities, a PhotoYarn project for children and young people, engagements with governments, and a public submissions process.
The themes of engagement outcomes highlight several critical areas that require attention and action. Funding is a foundational element, emphasising the need for sustained financial resources to support long-term initiatives. Self-determination and community-led local solutions are crucial for empowering communities to address their unique needs and contexts. This approach ensures that interventions are relevant and sustainable. Additionally, the call for “no more pilots” reflects a preference for scalable, proven strategies over short-term projects, advocating for a commitment to long-term solutions.
A competent and well-supported workforce is essential for effective service delivery, highlighting the importance of training, support, and stability. Legal supports must be integrated with other services to provide comprehensive assistance, ensuring a holistic approach to addressing individuals’ needs. Breaking down silos between different sectors and services is necessary for holistic responses, promoting coordinated efforts that consider all relevant factors. The “no wrong door” approach further supports this by ensuring that individuals can access the support they need regardless of their entry point into the system.
Education, healing, prevention, and early intervention are foundational themes that underpin many engagement outcomes. Accessible, high-quality education empowers individuals and communities, while proactive measures focus on healing and preventing problems before they escalate. Specific themes for women, men, and children emphasise the importance of tailored support and the creation of safe, supportive environments. Keeping children with their families and communities, and involving families in child protection decisions, are crucial for the well-being of children.
Finally, non-Indigenous organisations must be inclusive and culturally competent, ensuring that services are accessible to all communities. Data sovereignty and the resourcing of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) for data collection and analysis are essential for informed decision-making. Safe and secure housing options, including refuges and transitional housing, are critical for addressing the diverse needs of individuals, particularly those affected by family and domestic violence. Justice reforms, including better police responses and changes to the criminal justice system and family law, are necessary to provide fair and supportive outcomes for individuals and communities. These themes collectively underscore the importance of comprehensive, community-led, and sustainable approaches to engagement.
The themes, findings and recommendations of this report align with and reflect the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, particularly Priority Reform Areas 1 and 2 which focus on shared decision making and on strengthening the Aboriginal community-controlled sector.