Family and Sexual Violence

July 2026

Tasmania’s Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan 2022-2027 “Survivors at the Centre” is in its final year.

A review of its impact and planning for the next iteration will soon be underway.

Sadly, however, the prevalence of Family and Sexual violence on survivors remains rife across Tasmania and its entire population - particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and minority groups.

As the then Minister for Prevention of Family Violence on its release, and now recently the re-appointed Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Minister Jo Palmer has the opportunity to see the outcomes and results of their endorsed plan come full circle.

A rare opportunity, given leadership of the portfolio has shuffled multiple times between Minsters across the plan’s implementation.

With the State plan now coming to a conclusion, Tasmania has the opportunity to develop a new plan, reflect on the outcomes of the previous plan, work with those of lived experience, those in the sector and beyond during its development.

However, this space has changed over the past five years, as there was not a dedicated service for Aboriginal people, who, as highlighted in the preface of the previous plan, are disproportionally impacted by family and sexual violence.

There are now dedicated services such as SiS Tasmania, the State’s only Family Violence and Prevention Legal Service for Aboriginal survivors of family violence.

There is also the Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance working across the sector, along with others and longer term services delivering to those impacted by family and sexual violence..

Tasmania will have some national reference points with thanks to the recently released Our Ways - Strong Ways - Our Voices, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Second Action Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence that is currently in the consultation phase of its development process.

While these national plans are Commonwealth driven and the associated funding commitments support national priorities, the upcoming State plan and associated funding should target the Tasmanian context:

·         Support those most vulnerable in our State

·         The areas identified in consultation for this State

·         And support the service providers delivering services who need support

Minister Palmer, a critical review of the current plan and a genuine, meaningful consultation and considered development of the new plan will be critical to supporting those who need it most in Tasmania.

 Jake Smith – CEO, Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service & SiS Tasmania

 Media contact: A.Mark Thomas, M&M Communications, 0422 006 732