Domestic Violence NSW

The Deli Women & Children’s Centre stands with Domestic Violence NSW in calling for a 50% increase in core funding for specialist frontline domestic and family violence services.   Right now, frontline services across NSW are: • operating at or beyond capacity • managing unprecedented demand • supporting increasingly complex cases • absorbing workforce shortages and burnout • doing more with less every year   For many organisations, including small community-based services like The Deli, core funding has not kept pace with rising need, rising operational costs, or the escalating complexity of cases involving coercive control, housing insecurity, visa issues, and trauma.   A 50% increase in core funding means: • more counsellors, caseworkers and group programs • reduced waitlists • culturally safe supports • workforce stability • early intervention that prevents harm • safe, place-based support for communities   We join DVNSW in urging government to increase core funding so all women and children can access timely, specialist support.   #DVNSW #FundDVServices #EndDV #CommunitySafety #NSW #DFVWorkforce #TheDeliDifference

Yesterday the NSW Government passed legislation that formalises a standard non-parole period of 25 years for the murder of a current or former partner. Now let's break down what that means...

Only 1 week to go until the No More Empty Shoes Vigil. Join us as we honour and remember the lives lost to domestic and family violence. Stand with us as we call for change. #NoMoreEmptyShoes #16DaysofActivism

Are you a First Nations representative with experience in the NSW specialist Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) sector? We are seeking to establish a First Nations Working Group to lead the direction of the final design of the Quality Standards and implementation approach for NSW. Expressions of interest are open to First Nations Service Managers, Team/Practice Leaders and Practitioners with experience of working in NSW specialist domestic and family violence (DFV) services or DFV focused roles, including in ACCOs, grassroots organisations, regional and remote services and mainstream services.   Interested? Email carriem@dvnsw.org.au or meld@dvnsw.org.au for more information about the Quality Standards project and how to apply for the working group.   EOIs will close at 11.59pm Friday 28 November 2025. Carrie McKeon, Mel Daley

Our CEO Delia Donovan presented at the Legal Aid NSW Office Managers Conference on Wednesday, about some of the current priorities and work happening under our WDVCAS and Justice portfolio, led by Angie Gehle. Recently, we’ve provided feedback on several legislative reforms including increases to minimum sentencing requirements, DV Notify, the establishment of an Independent Victims Commissioner, and continued our advocacy to expand and strengthen NSW’s coercive control legislation. We’ve also continued to call for improvements to the Leaving Violence Program and the Safer Pathways funding model. It’s a timely and important opportunity to reflect on the progress being made through reform in the justice space, and to acknowledge the specialist workforce whose dedication is central to building safer systems and better outcomes for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. Thanks for having us Legal Aid NSW! @Cherie Pitman @Alice Stiles

We’re proud to launch our 2024-25 Annual Report – a reflection of a year that showed the true power of unity. Together, we celebrated 50 years of advocacy, welcomed new frameworks, plans and initiatives, expanded services, and reached more people than ever through our collective voice. We also came together in solidarity during disappointing budget announcements and stood by each other, and our communities, as we mourned the unprecedented number of lives stolen in 2024. To our Members, the Aboriginal Steering Committee, Lived Expertise Policy and Advisory Committee, and Migrant and Refugee Committee – thank you for your wisdom and guidance. And to our Board, and everyone who stood with us this year – thank you for your strength, solidarity, and support. Together, we remain united in purpose and unwavering in our advocacy. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gWTE9RVQ

Domestic and family violence shatters lives; physically, emotionally, and financially – too often leading to homelessness or death. In 2024, at least 25 women were killed in NSW – the highest number in almost ten years. Demand is rising, cases are more complex, and yet specialist frontline services have had no core funding increase in over a decade, forced to turn people away from life-saving support. Today we release our 2026–27 pre-budget submission, built on evidence, research, and extensive consultation with our approximately 200 members – the specialist workforce on the frontlines of this crisis. Read it. Share it. Help push for the funding needed to meet today’s crisis. https://lnkd.in/gxpw64bi

We welcome the NSW Government’s investment in crisis beds and look forward to supporting the rollout of this initiative.   For the best chance at safety for women and children, we must also recognise the impact that additional resources, without matched funding for service delivery, have on a workforce already stretched to breaking point. A 50% increase to core funding is the minimum needed to help bridge the gap between what we aim for in theory and what is possible in practice.