NSW government acknowledged the latest Domestic Violence Death Review Team (DVDRT) Report. According to Domestic Violence NSW, what remains unacknowledged, however, is the historic failure to adequately support First Nations and Migrant and Refugee women experiencing domestic violence.
The report confirms concerns held by those working on the frontlines of domestic violence.
Almost one-third of all homicides in NSW occurred in a context of domestic violence. Of the known 550 murders resulting from domestic and family violence, 19% of these were First Nations people, who make up just 3.4% of the state’s population. 27% of victims were from migrant and refugee backgrounds, 12% of which were on a temporary visa, meaning they were unable to access supports such as health care and income support.
“These aren’t numbers on a page, these are women and children who deserved more,” said Domestic Violence NSW CEO Delia Donovan.
Mudgin-Gal CEO Ashlee Donohue said that this doesn’t make sense, highlighting that the entire population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this state is 3.4%.
“Aboriginal women make up less than 2% and yet we are 19% of domestic violence-related murders. That statistic is not just disproportionate – it is shameful.”
“I want the government to make it make sense. Aboriginal women are overly impacted but Aboriginal services remain underfunded,” added Donohue.
First Nations and migrant and refugee women are often the invisible victims of domestic and family violence – and left out in state budgets.
While emergency funding to address domestic and family violence was announced by the NSW government in May, the DVDRT report highlights that much more must be done to save lives.
“Funding solutions costs money, but not funding solutions costs lives,” added Donovan.
“The government can’t ignore the data, we need to see investment in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and migrant and refugee services to ensure no one is left without access to specialised and culturally appropriate support – everyone deserves to be safe.”
Frontline domestic and family violence services need a 50% increase in baseline funding to meet demand.
We need a primary intervention approach that is client-centred, specialised, and acknowledges the intersecting experiences of women,” said Muslim Women Australie, CEO Maha Abdo.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and services working with migrant and refugee victim-survivors must be prioritised in government procurement processes.
The NSW government acknowledged the emergency funding as simply the start – the DVDRT report clearly shows that additional targeted funding is needed to stop this escalating crisis and better support people experiencing violence who are First Nations or from migrant and refugee backgrounds.