The Albanese Labor Government is reaffirming its commitment to end violence against women and children in one generation, today releasing the response to the independent review of the paid family and domestic violence leave.
The independent review, conducted by Flinders University, found the leave was "life changing" for those who accessed it and that there was broad stakeholder support from both employers and unions.
It found paid family and domestic violence leave is working as intended, supporting the financial security of those escaping or experiencing violence.
The Government accepts all five recommendations from the review. Work is now underway to address the recommendations, including through:
- Continued focus on raising awareness to integrate the leave as an ordinary workplace practice across Australian workplaces;
- Tailored guidance for priority cohorts, such as First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse and casual employees;
- Training programs for first responders, health, allied health and community frontline workers who commonly interact with victim-survivors on the entitlement;
- Additional strategies to improve awareness and access to the entitlement, opportunities to better understand usage of the leave, and further evaluation of the leave through the upcoming statutory review of Closing Loopholes reforms.
The review also made 12 findings, the most notable, was there should be a focus on increasing awareness and understanding of the leave entitlement through communities and workplaces.
It also found that ongoing stigma around family and domestic violence was a barrier to workers accessing the leave.
Resources will be updated and repromoted to incorporate feedback from the review.
The Government response highlights the important role that workplaces can play in addressing family and domestic violence. There is considerable goodwill from employees and employers alike to make sure anyone who needs the leave can access it, and the workplace is equipped to play its part in supporting people experiencing family and domestic violence.
The Albanese Government will continue to engage with unions, employer groups, and state and territory governments on strategies to improve awareness and access to the leave.
Paid family and domestic violence leave is just one of many actions the Albanese Government has taken to improve economic security for women and end gender-based violence.
You can find the Government response and the review's findings on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website.
