In August 2025 WEL wrote to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women regarding implementation of the recommendations of the Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches (Rapid Review) report, Unlocking the Prevention Potential: Accelerating action to end domestic, family and sexual violence.

WEL wished to clarify the proposed actions on the 21 recommendations of the Rapid Review, the timetable for action, and when there would be public reporting on the outcomes. 

'WEL members are concerned that the recommendations of the review have been swept into a range of activities under the National Plan to end Violence against Women and Children without the targeted action so clearly stated as urgent and essential to prevention now. It cannot be deferred to some distant future.'

- WEL letter to Minister Gallagher, 20 August 2025

In our letter to the Minister, WEL also noted that,

'The DV services sector is under relentless pressure. That pressure for its services is not diminished by the government’s acknowledgment of a national crisis and describing prevention as complex. It demands dedicated action and transparency about outcomes.'

This month (November) WEL received a response from the Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher, on behalf of the Prime Minister. 

Minister Gallagher referred to the $4.7 billion package agreed by National Cabinet (September 2024), that forms part of the Government's response to the Rapid Review report. National Cabinet will use the recommendations in the report to 'inform strengthened efforts across all governments to deliver the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–32.'

The Minister for Women also thanked WEL 'for writing on this important matter' and for WEL's 'continued advocacy for women’s safety and equality.'

On 30th October 2025, the Government published an update on the Implementation of the Rapid Review recommendations that can be found HERE.

WEL welcomes this detailed account of action to date and notes Minister Plibersek's statement in the Parliament. We await a decision on the governance framework for the ten-year National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children following on from the abolition of the National Plan Advisory group. Reporting and accountability for outcomes is critical to measuring the effectiveness of the Plan's and Review's many strategies. Data collection to address gaps in understanding what works must remain a priority across the nation.

WEL looks forward to the continued progress reports of the Women and Women’s Safety Ministerial Council. We will continue to monitor the Government's response to ending the national crisis of gender-based violence and the implementation of the recommendations in the Rapid Review.