Safer Families, Safer Communities—A domestic and family violence reform strategy for Queensland

Domestic and family violence (DFV) impacts the safety and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities across Queensland. It destroys lives, fractures families and impacts community life.

During Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in May 2026, the Queensland Government released the new Safer Families, Safer Communities: A domestic and family violence reform strategy for Queensland (the Strategy).

The Strategy resets and reforms how we prevent and respond to DFV, driving meaningful reform to create safer homes and communities.

Our vision

A Queensland where everyone feels safe in their homes and neighbourhoods, DFV is prevented before it begins, and respectful relationships are the foundation of our communities and connections.

Reform objectives

There are 4 reform objectives to achieve the vision:

• whole-of-community responses
• integrated services
• equitable services statewide
• quality data and system performance.

Priority focus areas

Preventing DFV is at the centre of the Strategy.

It underpins the following key domains that drive the Strategy:

• prevention of DFV
• early intervention with individuals, families and young people
• responses to persons using violence
• recovery and healing to support prevention.

A whole-of-community approach

The Strategy recognises that preventing and responding to DFV is everyone’s responsibility—from government agencies, funded services, and community-led organisations such as sporting and social clubs.

Disrespect towards women and girls creates the conditions for DFV to occur. Promoting respect and equality is key to breaking the cycle of violence. There are simple things we can all do to make a difference. Calling out harmful behaviours and promoting respect helps create safer communities where DFV is not tolerated.

System enablers

The Strategy identifies key system enablers as building blocks to drive and sustain meaningful reform:

• accessible, accountable and collaborative service responses
• building DFV capability
• strong and effective DFV laws
• meaningful data and monitoring.

Strategy implementation

The Strategy will be delivered through 3 phases:

• reset
• amplify
• sustain.

The activities in these phases collectively work to meet the Strategy’s vision and reform objectives.

Phase 1—Reset prioritises the Queensland Government’s commitment to support safer communities. It outlines initiatives to be delivered by the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety and lays the foundation for future reform.

Measuring success

Success will see an elevated focus on prevention, early intervention, persons using violence, and recovery and healing to prevent DFV and support Queenslanders to feel safe in their families, homes and communities.

An evaluation framework will integrate data and quantitative and qualitative evidence to establish a comprehensive foundation to monitor progress and system performance.