In response to growing community anger about the number of women killed by partners, the Federal Government has announced a rapid review of evidence-based approaches to prevent gender-based violence.

Co-convened by three senior public servants, a panel of six experts will deliver its final report by the end of the year with part of the research completed by end June. The review has been allocated $1.3 million over two years. 

Jess Hill is a panel member and her recent paper with Michael Salter has stimulated some searching discussion on current approaches to prevention which have not led to any diminution in violence over the last decade.

WEL agrees with the many frontline workers and sector advocates who are citing the continued under-funding of domestic violence services and the urgent need for housing security and permanency as immediate priorities. However, there is much value in reviewing current and best evidence to formulate effective programs for the future.

A recent study,Securing women’s lives: examining system interactions and perpetrator risk in intimate femicide sentencing judgments over a decade in Australia, which has received extensive media coverage stresses that intimate femicide is preventable. The analysis presented in the report identified significant prior “criminal justice system involvement among perpetrators, with 71% having contact with two legal points prior to the intimate femicide” (SMH 18-06-24 p.8).

Evidence from such recent studies will be critical to the rapid review’s work. The Government has indicated that the panel will consult extensively with stakeholders: in WEL’s view learning from service providers about what constitutes effective primary prevention is key to designing community-based interventions.

WEL is urging that the panel’s recommendations must lead to reforms in the criminal justice system with improved risk assessment and management as well as more effective prevention programs.