Innovative strategy puts spotlight on those using domestic and family violence

• The Broadening the Focus strategy aims to change the behaviours of people using domestic and family violence (DFV)
• The Strategy builds on the progress already made in supporting victim-survivors and stopping people using DFV by enhancing integrated service responses, and strengthening system and community responses
• The Strategy sets the foundations for ongoing reform and investment in response to persons using violence.

The Miles Government today launched an Australian-first strategy that places greater emphasis on responding to people who use violence in domestic and family situations.

Broadening the Focus: Queensland’s strategy to strengthen responses to people who use domestic and family violence 2024 to 2028 (Broadening the Focus) is a pivotal strategy that builds on the significant progress that has been made in tracking DFV.

It revolves around strengthening and improving whole-of-system and community responses, to actively hold people using violence responsible for their harmful attitudes and behaviours, and support them to change.

The Strategy will be implemented over four years and has four ‘priority areas’ to tackle the perpetration of DFV:

• Increasing community understanding of why people use violence and how we can prevent DFV from occurring
• Enhancing support for children and young people using, or at risk of using violence
• Strengthening risk assessment, referral pathways and interventions for people using, or at risk of using violence
• Enhancing Queensland’s system of accountability to effectively respond to people using, or at risk of using violence.

Broadening the Focus explores interventions that provide the appropriate support to sustain behavioural change.

Stopping the perpetration of DFV will be achieved through the development and implementation of initiatives that cover the continuum of prevention, early intervention, responding to violence and systemic reform.

The Strategy is underpinned by a range of evidence and consultation with stakeholders from government, non-government and community-based organisations, the public and experts.

For instance, research has shown that four in five people using DFV are male. Because of this, the Strategy considers risk factors, drivers and behaviours that increase the likelihood of a man’s tendency to perpetrate DFV and takes an intersectional approach to interventions which is essential to creating meaningful behaviour change.

The Strategy is part of the government’s continuing work to change attitudes and behaviours towards domestic and family violence to keep victim-survivors safe.

The Strategy can be found here.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“This strategy is an Australian first and nation leading.

“It puts the focus on the people who commit the violence so that we can help break the cycle of abuse.

“As Premier, I never want to see another Queensland woman die at the hand of their partner.

“It has to end.

“We need the behaviour of our men to change, and this strategy will help address that.”

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“To achieve our goal of ending all forms of domestic and family violence, it’s critical that we keep enhancing integrated service responses, and strengthening system and community responses to the issues.

“We have put a lot of emphasis on supporting victim-survivors and helping them break free of the cycle of violence they find themselves in through no fault of their own.

“The person using violence however, will often enter new relationships which can lead to new DFV victims being created.

“That’s why with this strategy, the focus is on people who use violence.

“To change the behaviour of a people using violence, we must understand what drives them to commit such horrific acts and make sure our interventions work.

“It is also essential to focus our efforts in early intervention to support people, including children and young people, who are at risk of using violence.

“Broadening the Focus is key to developing and strengthening responses to people using violence to help them to change their behaviour.

"Since 2015, we’ve committed more than $1.9 billion to end domestic, family and sexual violence and improve women’s safety.”

Quotes attributable to No to Violence CEO, Phillip Ripper:

“No to Violence celebrates the release of this ground breaking strategy.

“The Queensland Government in leading the nation when it comes to focusing on men to end their use of family violence.

“We will never end family violence in Queensland until we focus changing the behaviour of people who use violence.

“No to Violence is calling on the Commonwealth Government to follow Queensland’s lead and commit to a National Strategy for People Who Use Violence.

“The investment in innovation and front-line service is extremely welcomed.”

Quotes attributable to Ending Violence Against Women Co-Chair, Amie Carrington:

“Enhancing accountability of people who are perpetrating violence is an important component in preventing domestic and family violence.

“Addressing this at an individual, community and systemic levels is critical to success.

“Holistic approaches that emphasise early intervention and support for children and young people who are use, or are at risk of using violence, are a welcome part of this strategy and will move us toward ending domestic, family and sexual violence in our communities.”

ENDS