Public submissions have opened to inform development of the first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan.
The development of the Family Safety Plan is being overseen by a Steering Committee, comprising 24 members appointed by the Minister for Social Services, including 12 non-government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives.
SNAICC – National voice for our Children has been commissioned by the Commonwealth Government to provide support for community engagement and drafting of the Plan, along with secretariat services for the Steering Committee guiding the Plan’s development.
Steering Committee co-chair Muriel Bamblett said it was important that community voices and experiences were prioritised as the national plan progressed.
“The stand alone National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan will be critical to increasing safety for our women and children, so we need to hear from a range of stakeholders.
“The Steering Committee made the decision to call the engagement phase Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices to highlight the importance of having input from across the country, from lived experience and the grass roots, as well as organisations and academics.
“We want to make sure all perspectives on the solutions, priorities and approaches have every opportunity to inform the national Plan, so it reflects the needs and aspirations of our communities.
“SNAICC will prepare a consultation report summarising what we hear in Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices engagement phase, including submissions but without identifying any individuals.
“By providing a submission, your voice, experiences, and knowledge will help the Family Safety Plan make a tangible impact on the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.”
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth highlighted the need to give First Nations people, service providers on the ground and anyone interested an opportunity to contribute to the Plan and to identify solutions and approaches that can combat the disproportionately high rates of family, domestic, and sexual violence amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“This public submission process will give people – particularly victim-survivors who have experienced violence – the opportunity to engage on a series of questions regarding key priorities, challenges, and solutions to address the rates of gender-based violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“Providing everyone the opportunity to contribute is an important part of the consultation and design process. This will contribute to the broader consultation and engagement program that SNAICC are delivering to support the Steering Committee in the development of the plan.”
Submissions from individuals will not be published, to ensure safety. Written submissions from organisations and academics will be published after the process is finalised, where consent has been provided.
The public submissions process is open until 11.59pm AEST on Friday 25 October 2024. To share your views and experiences, you can upload a written or audio submission here.
SNAICC has created a discussion paper to support the public submissions process. Or contact familysafetyplan@snaicc.org.au for more information about how to participate.
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