SA launches Domestic Violence Advisory Network
South Australia has launched a Domestic Violence Advisory Network to inform reforms from the Royal Commission.
New Advisory Network to Help Shape SA Domestic Violence Reforms
South Australia has taken a significant step in responding to the findings of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence by establishing a statewide lived experience advisory network. This network brings together people who have survived domestic violence to offer direct advice and feedback to the government on proposed reforms.
The aim of the network is to ensure that reform efforts are grounded in real-world experience, particularly as the government works through the recommendations made by the royal commission to strengthen prevention, response and support for victim-survivors.
Why a Lived Experience Advisory Network Matters
Domestic and family violence continues to be a serious issue across South Australia. On average, SA Police respond to around 100 domestic incidents every day, demonstrating the scale and daily impact of abuse in the community.
Rather than relying solely on experts and policymakers, the advisory network ensures that people who have lived through abuse directly inform policy and service design. One of the first participants — a survivor who shared her story with the royal commission — said the network provides a chance to identify gaps in the system and highlight what could be done differently.
In practical terms, the network will provide input on issues such as:
How support services engage with victim-survivors
Improvements to frontline responses from police, courts and health services
Ways to better recognise and address forms of abuse such as coercive control (which is already criminalised under South Australian law)
Training needs for professionals who work with victim-survivors
Advocacy groups like Embolden — South Australia’s peak body for domestic, family and sexual violence services — are encouraging people with a range of experiences to join the network and help shape lasting reform.
Context: Royal Commission and Government Reform
The advisory network is one of several recommendations being implemented from the 136-point report of the SA Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence released in mid-2025.
The government has committed to responding to remaining recommendations, including through new measures such as:
Enhanced specialist police units and victim support frameworks
Statewide 24/7 support services
Reformed risk assessment and intervention systems
Training for judicial officers and frontline workers
These reforms aim to create a more coordinated, trauma-informed and survivor-focused system across the state.
What This Means for Victim-Survivors and the Community
For individuals affected by domestic violence, the advisory network offers a new avenue to ensure their voices meaningfully influence change. It also helps to bridge the gap between policy and lived experience — so that reforms reflect the complex realities of violence, coercion and systemic barriers that many people face.
By centralising survivor expertise, South Australia is signalling that effective reform cannot be designed in isolation from those most impacted.
***
If you need urgent help or are in danger, contact emergency services on 000, or access dedicated support lines such as 1800 Respect (1800 737 732) and the SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line (1800 800 098).
This OYBlog was created with AI assistance based on the following source:
Violence survivors urged to join network tasked with advising SA government reform, Premier of South Australia, Office for Women, Royal Commission DFSV,