McAuley advocates for an integrated family violence response

McAuley is a leader in policy discussions about homelessness and family violence. We use our knowledge of the issues facing women and children, their experiences and gaps in services and systems, to advocate for change.

McAuley has recently made three submissions advocating for a national, integrated response to family violence.

Second Action Plan under Australia’s National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032

The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 is the overarching national policy framework that will guide actions towards ending violence against women and children in one generation. The Second Action Plan will build on the work of the First Action Plan and help guide national efforts from 2027.

McAuley provided two submissions to the Department of Social Services’ consultation on the development of the Second Action Plan.

McAuley’s submission

No one should have to become homeless to find safety – yet for too many women escaping family violence, homelessness is their only option. McAuley’s first submission to the Second Action Plan argues that ending violence against women and children requires a national, integrated approach, embedding responsibility across all domains.

The submission focuses on the following six areas where change is needed, with specific recommendations for each:

1. Integrated whole-of-family early intervention through Safe at Home
2. Housing stability and homelessness prevention
3. Timely and trauma-informed mental health support
4. Women’s economic security
5. Recognition and support for infants, children and young people as victim-survivors in their own right
6. The investment needed to build coordinated and sustainable service responses

Read the full submission here.

Joint submission by McAuley and the University of Melbourne

McAuley’s second submission was made in partnership with the University of Melbourne based on learnings from the Safe at Home trial, an integrated family violence response operating in Geelong and the Barwon region. The submission argues that the Second Action Plan should invest in integrated, whole-of-family responses that begin earlier, continue for longer and are properly resourced to work in practice.

Its key recommendations are:

1. Invest in integrated whole-of-family responses as a national family violence model
2. Prioritise earlier intervention and outreach before crisis, homelessness and system escalation
3. Recognise housing stability, homelessness prevention and women’s economic security as core family violence outcomes
4. Recognise and invest in children and young people as victim-survivors in their own right
5. Build a coordinated and sustainable system that reduces re-traumatisation and strengthens accountability

Read the full submission here.

Shaping the future of employment services

The Australian Government is reforming employment services, aimed at better meeting the needs of individuals, employers, communities and the economy.

As part of this process, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) released the Shaping the future of employment services Discussion Paper, setting out the case for change and the government’s vision for reform. Seeking feedback on the Discussion Paper, the DEWR invited stakeholders to contribute to the design settings for the future service.

McAuley’s submission

For many victim-survivors of family violence, employment represents much more than just a job outcome. It is one of the critical foundations that enables them to leave violence, secure housing, support their children, rebuild confidence and achieve long-term economic independence – yet women experiencing family violence continue to face barriers to workforce participation.

McAuley’s submission recommends that the future employment services system moves beyond a narrow focus on job placement and recognises employment support as part of a broader safety, housing and recovery response for victim-survivors of family violence.

The key recommendations are:

1. Recognise family violence as a significant barrier to employment within assessment, triage and support processes
2. Establish specialist employment pathways for victim-survivors of family violence
3. Fund specialist providers with demonstrated expertise in family violence, homelessness and employment support
4. Make participation voluntary, flexible and able to respond to changing circumstances
5. Measure outcomes beyond job placement
6. Invest in specialist workforce capability across the employment services system
7. Recognise employment as a homelessness prevention and Safe at Home intervention

Read the full submission here.