National Council Invites Interest from Domestic Violence Survivors

The Australian Government is seeking Expressions of Interest from people with lived or living experience of domestic, family and sexual violence to appoint up to twelve members to a national Lived Experience Advisory Council (the Advisory Council). Expressions of Interest are live and will remain open until 11:59pm AEST Friday 29 September 2023.

The Advisory Council will provide advice to the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission, to help improve domestic, family and sexual violence policies, systems and services, and monitor implementation and progress towards the objectives of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-23.

Information about the Advisory Council Expression of Interest process, including details on how to apply, is available online at https://dfsvc.gov.au/.

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, Ms Micaela Cronin, emphasised the value of amplifying the voices of people with lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence.

"The Australian Government acknowledges the invaluable expertise that people with lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence can offer to improving policy, systems, services and supports," Ms Cronin said.

"Listening to people with lived experience is at the heart of the National Plan, and the commitment to end gender-based violence in one generation."

Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Justine Elliot, said how integral the group would be to developing better responses.

"Victim-survivors have unique insights that come from their lived experience, and that's why we need these voices to inform our policy solutions, Assistant Minister Elliot said."

"The group, working closely with the Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Commissioner, will ensure that the voices of victim-survivors are formally embedded at a national level and that a diversity of perspectives and experiences and heard and championed."