Research & Submissions

The National FVPLS Forum conducts research and policy analysis and prepares submissions in order to reduce family violence and advance the rights and wellbeing of First Nations people in their access to legal and non-legal services and support. Our work is informed by evidence, and we aim to influence government policy, to advocate for First Nations people affected by family violence and to advance the goals of the FVPLS sector. Below you will find a selection of our work, including submissions, research, policy analysis and statements, statistics, report summaries and fact sheets, as well as publications from other organisations in relation to family violence.

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Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024

2 Apr 2024

Policy Submissions

Sector calls for real change following review of National Agreement on Closing the Gap

7 Feb 2024

Media Release

Invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI): Artwork Commission for The Forum

6 Feb 2024

Expression of Interest (EOI)

National Peak Body Calls for Community-Driven Solutions following Legal Service Closure

2 Feb 2024

Media Release

The National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Pre-Budget Submission 2024-2025

30 Jan 2024

Policy Submissions

Submission for the Independent Review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership Agreement (NLAP)

20 Nov 2023

Policy Submissions

The NFVPLS Forum submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department regarding the Exposure Draft of the Family Law Amendment Bill (No.2) 2023

20 Nov 2023

Policy Submissions

Family violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is a national crisis

29 May 2023

National Forum Publications

National Forum Strategic Response

29 May 2023

National Forum Publications

National Forum Brochure

29 May 2023

National Forum Publications

National Plan submission to the Department of Social Services – Developing the next National Plan to reduce Violence against Women and Their Children July 2021

1 Jul 2021

Policy Submissions

Statement: The National Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services Forum (National FVPLS Forum) welcomes the historic new Closing the Gap Agreement released today

30 Jul 2020

Media Release

Welcome commitment to supporting Family Violence Prevention Legal Services – FVPLS Forum Welcomes Greens Announcement

29 Apr 2019

Welcome commitment to safety of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander victims/survivors of family violence

24 Apr 2019

Media Release

No safety, no certainty: National FVPLS Forum response to the 2019-20 Federal Budget

2 Apr 2019

Media Release

Joint Submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee: Putting single mothers last: the economic injustice of ParentsNext, February 2019

5 Feb 2019

Policy Submissions

National FVPLSForum welcomes partnership approach to Closing the Gap Refresh

12 Dec 2018

Submission to Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Project

1 Dec 2018

Policy Submissions

Joint Statement from national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak agencies on proposed legislative reforms to the NSW statutory child protection system

12 Nov 2018

Submission to the merger of the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court

1 Nov 2018

Policy Submissions

Submission to the ALRC Family Law Review Discussion Paper

1 Nov 2018

Policy Submissions

Gender Equity Victoria endorsement of the National FVPLS Forum submission to the Fourth Action Plan

18 Oct 2018

Policy Submissions

Submission on the Development of the Fourth Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children

1 Oct 2018

Policy Submissions

Submission to the Review of the Indigenous Legal Assistance Program

1 Oct 2018

Policy Submissions

Submission to the Review of the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services

1 Oct 2018

Policy Submissions

NFVPLS Media Release – The 2018 Budget is yet another missed opportunity for the Federal Government to invest in ending family violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

9 May 2018

Media Release

Submission to the Australian Labor Party’s Consultation Draft of the National Policy Platform

1 May 2018

Policy Submissions

Submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission Review of the Family Law System Issues Paper, May 2018

1 May 2018

Policy Submissions

Submission to the Closing the Gap Refresh Process, April 2018

1 Apr 2018

Policy Submissions

NFVPLS Media Release – Urgent action to prevent family violence required to make the Apology a reality

13 Feb 2018

NFVPLS Media Release – Without justice targets and a strong focus on family violence, the Closing the Gap Framework will continue to fail Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children

12 Feb 2018

Media Release

Family Law Amendment (Parenting Management Hearings) Bill 2017

1 Jan 2018

Policy Submissions

Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2017

1 Jan 2018

Policy Submissions

NFVPLS Media Release – response to the release of Royal Commission report into child abuse

15 Dec 2017

Media Release

2018-19 Pre-Budget Submission – National FVPLS Forum

1 Dec 2017

Policy Submissions

NFVPLS Media Release – Investing in Aboriginal organisations essential to promote child well-being and resilience says landmark NT Royal Commission

17 Nov 2017

Media Release

NFVPLS Media Release – Turnbull Government’s expansion of Domestic Violence Units to have little impact on addressing family violence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children

16 Oct 2017

Media Release

NFVPLS Media Release – UN Special Rapporteur on Rights of Indigenous Peoples

20 Sep 2017

Media Release

Australian Law Reform Commission Inquiry into Incareration Rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

1 Sep 2017

Policy Submissions

Strong Families, Safe Kids: Family violence response and prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families

1 Sep 2017

National Forum Publications

Redfern Statement Family Violence and Justice Workshop Communique

27 Jun 2017

National Forum Publications

Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory

1 Jun 2017

Policy Submissions

NFVPLS, NACLC & NATSILS joint media release: Federal Budget 2017

10 May 2017

Media Release

Parliamentary Inquiry into a Better Family Law System to Protect those Affected by Family Violence

1 May 2017

Policy Submissions

Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

1 Mar 2017

Policy Submissions

National FVPLS Forum response to Ms June Oscar AO appointed as Social Justice Commissioner

9 Feb 2017

Media Release

Amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 to respond to family violence

1 Feb 2017

Policy Submissions

Australian Law Reform Commission Terms of Reference – Inquiry into the rates of Indigenous Incarceration

13 Jan 2017

Policy Submissions

2017-18 Pre-Budget Submission – National FVPLS Forum

1 Jan 2017

Policy Submissions

Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women

1 Jan 2017

Policy Submissions

National FVPLS Forum response to Ms Dhu decision

16 Dec 2016

Media Release

Parliamentary Inquiry into Freedom of Speech

8 Dec 2016

Policy Submissions

National FVPLS Response to the Third Action Plan

28 Oct 2016

Media Release

Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory

27 Oct 2016

Policy Submissions

Major Parliamentary report highlights importance of access to legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island women and children

13 Oct 2016

Media Release

Royal Commission welcome but a broader inquiry into the youth justice system is needed

25 Jul 2016

Media Release

Investment to reduce violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women a welcome priority under the Third Action Plan

20 Jun 2016

Media Release

Further investment welcome but more is needed to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

16 Jun 2016

Media Release

Bold action to address violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

26 May 2016

Media Release

Welcome funding but greater investment needed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities being destroyed by family violence

12 May 2016

Media Release

Action to combat violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women invisible in the Budget

3 May 2016

Media Release

25 years on the system is failing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and destroying families

15 Apr 2016

Media Release

Senate Inquiry into Gender Inequality and Domestic Violence

31 Mar 2016

Policy Submissions

Access to justice for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women on International Women’s Day

8 Mar 2016

Media Release

2016-17 Pre-Budget Submission – National FVPLS Forum

1 Feb 2016

Policy Submissions

Statement on video depicting excessive force by police towards Aboriginal woman

20 Jan 2016

Media Release

Aboriginal women’s voices should be heard at the 2016 National Summit

14 Dec 2015

Media Release

Reducing family violence is central to closing the justice gap

19 Nov 2015

Media Release

Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim/survivors access to legal services essential to address family violence

24 Sep 2015

Media Release

Calls for Increased Commitment to Prevent Aboriginal Child Removal

20 Aug 2015

Media Release

Reduced commitment to legal services is not good news

2 Jul 2015

Media Release

Senate Inquiry into Access to Legal Assistance Services

1 Jun 2015

Policy Submissions

Senate Inquiry into the Commonwealth Indigenous Advancement Strategy Tendering Process

1 Jun 2015

Policy Submissions

Examination of Children Affected by Family and Domestic Violence

1 Jun 2015

Policy Submissions

Federal Budget provides no relief for FVPLSs despite escalating rates of family violence

13 May 2015

Media Release

Family Law Council Reference on Families with Complex Needs & the Intersection of the Family Law and Child Protection Systems

1 May 2015

Policy Submissions

Nearly 200 organisations outline concern for UN over Australia’s declining human rights performance

1 Apr 2015

Media Release

Devastating legal assistance funding cuts reversed

27 Mar 2015

Media Release

Devastating legal assistance funding cuts reversed

27 Mar 2015

Media Release

Open Letter: Cuts to legal services will have a disastrous impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

25 Mar 2015

Letters

Senate Inquiry into Domestic Violence calls on Government to immediately provide more funding to legal assistance services

20 Mar 2015

Media Release

Step up in commitments to the national crisis of family violence

6 Mar 2015

Media Release

Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Award for service excellence

6 Mar 2015

Significant impact of fudnign cuts to legal assistance services emphasised on anniversary of National Apology

13 Feb 2015

Media Release

110 Percent Commitment to Family Violence Ignores Lack of Funding

27 Jan 2015

Media Release

Productivity Commission confirms FVPLS essential

4 Dec 2014

Media Release

Senate Inquiry into Out-of-Home Care

1 Oct 2014

Policy Submissions

New Stats reveal that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are one of the most incarcerated groups in the world

16 Sep 2014

Media Release

Plea for PM to Step in and fix Indigenous Affairs policy and funding chaos

2 Sep 2014

Media Release

Media release in support of FVPLSs from Community Law Australia

22 Aug 2014

Media Release

Media release in support of FVPLSs from National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS)

22 Aug 2014

Media Release

Statement of Support from Australian Legal Assistance Forum (ALAF)

21 Aug 2014

Statements of Support

Media release in support of FVPLSs from National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC)

20 Aug 2014

Media Release

New Threat For Family Violence Prevention Legal Services

18 Aug 2014

Media Release

Senate Inquiry into the effect of cuts or changes in the Commonwealth Budget

1 Aug 2014

Policy Submissions

Senate Inquiry into Domestic Violence

1 Jul 2014

Policy Submissions

Access to Justice Arrangements Draft Report

1 May 2014

Policy Submissions

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Study on Access to Justice

1 Mar 2014

Policy Submissions

National Forum Response to Senate Estimates

25 Feb 2014

Media Release

Devastating cuts to Aboriginal Family Violence legal services

18 Dec 2013

Media Release

Response to Governor-General Quentin Bryce’s condemnation of violence against women

12 Nov 2013

Media Release

Access to Justice Arrangements

1 Nov 2013

Policy Submissions

Devastating impacts of Coalition’s proposed cuts to Aboriginal legal services

6 Sep 2013

Media Release

Aboriginal service overlooked for Aboriginal family violence funding

2 Jul 2013

Media Release

No “Fair Go” for Aboriginal women

15 May 2013

Media Release

Value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia

1 May 2013

Policy Submissions

Impact of Federal Court fee increases since 2010 on access to justice in Australia

1 Apr 2013

Policy Submissions

Australian Solicitor’s Conduct Rules and Commentary

1 Apr 2013

Policy Submissions

Useful Links

Prime Minister and Cabinet website

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/indigenous_affairs/

Access to Justice website which includes information on other legal assistance services such as Legal Aid, Indigenous Legal Aid, Community Legal Services and Pro Bono Services

http://www.accesstojustice.gov.au

Family Relationships website which includes information for parents, children, youth, etc., and includes information on counselling, domestic violence and other services:

http://www.familyrelationships.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx