Royal Commission recognises council role in addressing domestic, family and sexual violence
The Commission heard from thousands of people, including victim survivors, academics, advocates, public servants, national and state commissioners, and local government, and has set out a blueprint for a safer South Australia.
Importantly, the report recognises that local government has a critical role to play, both in prevention and ensuring people can access help in the places they already know and trust.
Safe and effective help seeking
The report highlights the role of libraries and community centres as vital informal supports that should be integrated into a new “central entry point” service system for people seeking help.
Recommendation 46 calls for the South Australian Government to fund an independent, all-hours central entry point service, offering crisis response, risk assessment and referral pathways, as well as developing awareness of the service across the trusted places people visit in their community.
The Commission specifically acknowledged the role of councils in:
- identifying new services and spaces to partner with
- promoting the central entry point through South Australia’s extensive community networks
- continuing to act as trusted providers of information and support.
Prevention and community-based responses
The report also reflects LGA’s submission, which called for community-based local responses, sustainable partnerships, and funding for grassroots organisations to work with councils on prevention.
Recommendation 127 outlines the establishment of a primary prevention saturation model for South Australia, developed in partnership with local government and the community.
This would be piloted in two communities over four years, drawing on successful national and international approaches.
The Commission noted that “the South Australian Government should capitalise on this demonstrated goodwill and enthusiasm and work in partnership with local government and the local community to develop long-term primary prevention strategies”.
Next steps
LGA looks forward to working with the state government to develop the central entry point service and the prevention saturation model.
However, it is disappointing the recommendations did not provide stronger recognition of councils’ role in prevention efforts, nor commit to funding a dedicated officer within the sector to coordinate and advance this work – a key element of our submission.
LGA made 44 recommendations to the Royal Commission, covering areas such as support for councils, policy and legislative support and funding.
We also called for a dedicated resource for LGA to act in an advisory and coordination role, and a grants program to support councils in delivering local prevention responses using Our Watch’s local government toolkit.
Find out more
You can learn more about the Royal Commission in Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence at www.royalcommissiondfsv.sa.gov.au/