A coalition of advocacy groups called Change The Record says stopping violence starts with putting First Nations women in charge.  The report criticises successive governments for failing to address injustices against First Nations women, including physical, sexual and emotional violence and disproportionate incarceration rates. Change the Record has released the Pathways to Safety report – “the case for a dedicated First Nations Women’s National Safety Plan written by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women”.  “It’s long been clear that top-down, government responses to family violence make things worse, not better, for First Nations women, children and communities,” the report states, pointing out that First Nations women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence, 10 times more likely to die due to assault and 45 times more likely to experience violence compared to non-Indigenous women.

The Government has established the National Advice Services for Sexual Abuse and Domestic and Family Violence hotline and internet: www.1800RESPECT.org.au. Through another program, DV-alert, for health, health care professionals and indigenous health workers will be trained to recognize and respond to domestic violence. A National Center of Excellence will facilitate and coordinate research activities on domestic and family violence and sexual abuse to inform policy and program development. The most important point to remember when supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experiencing family violence is the connectedness of people to community. Family and kinship connections are extremely important. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples these connections give a sense of identity and belonging.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities typically have a broad and inclusive concept of family. This means that families are large and there are many people who are considered close family members. For instance, often first cousins are considered sisters, or mothers' distant cousins may be considered aunties. Family is not always dependent on being a blood relative. People who grew up in the same place may be considered a part of the same family in every way that you would expect from blood relatives.