DFV forum—May 2026

The Honourable Amanda Camm MP, Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence thanks all Queensland domestic and family violence (DFV) advocates and stakeholders who participated in the Domestic and Family Violence Forum (the Forum) held on Friday 22 May 2026.

The Forum was held to promote collaboration and dialogue between DFV and sexual violence service providers, stakeholders, peak bodies and the Queensland Government. The Minister used the occasion to announce the Safer Families, Safer Communities: A domestic and family violence reform strategy for Queensland and provide an overview of its key elements.

The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety also delivered a presentation outlining progress to date on several government commitments.

Key areas of focus included:

• DFV government election commitments
• Ministerial DFV charter letter commitments
• Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce Recommendations
• national action plans
• Federation funding agreement
• National risk assessment principles framework.

The Forum featured a thought-provoking panel discussion with representatives from key organisations:

• Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Alliance: Stacey Ross
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander DFV Prevention Group: Topsy Mola
• Remote Women’s Shelter Network: Karen Dini-Paul
• Queensland Sexual Assault Network: Angela Lynch
• WorkUP: Louise Villanova
• Services and Practitioners for Eliminating Abuse Queensland: Paul Monsour
• Acting Victims’ Commissioner: Sarah Kay.

Panel members highlighted critical issues facing the DFV sector, including:

• acknowledging the nature of DFV work—recognising the complexity and emotional demands of the sector and the need to support staff effectively
• new funding for the Sexual Violence Peak—providing an opportunity to focus on innovation, collaboration within the DFV sector, and capacity building
• workforce challenges, including
  • the need for building capability through training for various roles and functions in DFV service delivery, including working with persons using violence
  • attracting and retaining staff
  • strengthening leadership
  • ensuring qualifications balance lived experience by providing learning options through micro-credentials leading to educational pathways
  • addressing systems fatigue that arises from working to gain access to mainstream supports for victim-survivors
• support available through the Victims’ Commissioner—improving the system by enabling victim-survivors to make complaints and receive information and support
• increased awareness of victims’ rights—highlighting that more victims are now aware of their rights under the Victims Charter, empowering them to advocate for themselves and access the information and support they are entitled to.

Minister Camm reaffirmed her commitment to ongoing engagement with stakeholders to address challenges and collaborate on solutions to strengthen Queensland’s response to DFV.