The South Australian Government has set out its long-awaited response to the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, pledging $674 million over a decade to reshape how the state prevents, responds to and supports recovery from abuse. The plan lands several months after Commissioner Natasha Stott Despoja delivered 136 recommendations, many of which pointed to gaps that frontline services, police and legal advocates have been raising for years.
The Royal Commission described domestic, family and sexual violence as deeply complex, influenced by structural pressures, personal histories, social norms and economic stress. The Government has accepted that meeting these challenges requires long-term attention and coordination across agencies rather than short bursts of funding or isolated initiatives.
Officials say the response has been carefully assembled, with work already underway on early recommendations such as forming lived-experience advisory groups, creating a dedicated ministerial portfolio and setting up a Government Steward to guide reform. A five-year strategy for tackling violence across the state is also in motion.
The headline figure — $674 million over 10 years — is intended to lift immediate safety measures while gradually shifting systems that police, child protection workers, health staff and community services depend on. Ministers are also emphasising that the reforms are designed in partnership with people who work in or draw on the system, including survivors.
The effort starts with new ways for people to seek help. A 24/7 telephone and digital support line will be created, offering trauma-informed advice and directing callers to specialist services. Until it is up and running, the existing Domestic Violence Crisis Line will receive extra support. The Government is also funding a new central website bringing together information on the drivers of violence, its impacts and service pathways. Both measures respond to community feedback that navigating the system can feel confusing at the very moment people are least equipped to manage bureaucracy.
Another major plank is the SA Framework for Evaluating Risk, known as SAFER. This evidence-based tool will guide police, child protection workers and specialist services in recognising and responding to risk, with particular attention to children and young people. Advocates have argued for years that inconsistent approaches between agencies have left some families falling through the cracks, and the Government believes SAFER will provide a clearer foundation for joint decision-making.
The administration is also committing to a set of integrated response teams operating across seven regions. These multidisciplinary groups will bring together expertise that currently sits across several separate programs. The aim is to reduce duplication, streamline referrals and ensure information moves to where it is needed without delay. The Government says the first year of implementation will focus on stabilising frontline providers that have been operating under pressure and uncertainty.
South Australia Police will elevate domestic, family and sexual violence within its ranks, creating a dedicated service expected to exceed 100 full-time staff by 2031. A new Assistant Commissioner will lead this work. Community legal organisations have long called for more capacity within policing, saying current resources cannot match the volume or sensitivity of cases.
The response includes dozens of other reforms. Survivors will have access to more flexible support packages, covering housing, legal assistance and employment help. Long-term funding agreements for service providers are intended to reduce administrative burden and help organisations plan properly. There will be additional support for child protection services, expanded programs aimed at changing violent behaviour, and more investment in Safe at Home, which helps people remain in their own homes rather than fleeing.
Housing is a clear pressure point. The Government is doubling the number of public homes reserved for people escaping domestic, family and sexual violence and increasing rent-in-advance assistance. Means testing will be waived for survivors accessing the Private Rental Assistance program, aimed at opening private rental options that would otherwise be out of reach.
Healthcare reforms include better access to forensic medical examinations and legislative changes to allow registered midwives to carry out these procedures. Fees for health services will be waived for survivors without Medicare access. The Government also plans a dedicated support service for people navigating intervention orders and an online platform to help survivors understand justice processes.
Courts will see changes too, including a vulnerable witness suite to ensure people giving evidence do not come into contact with defendants. The Government will also legislate for a two-hour “safety-pause” to slow rapid alcohol delivery, citing concerns raised by police and health workers about alcohol-related harm.
Education and prevention measures form another part of the package. The Government will advocate for domestic, family and sexual violence content to be incorporated into school and university courses, including training for pre-school staff. Young people will be a focus of prevention campaigns, particularly around sexual violence and online harm. Programs aimed at people who use violence will be expanded as part of an effort to break cycles of harm.
The SAFER framework and integrated response teams are expected to be fully operational by 2030, though advocates are already urging the Government to maintain clear reporting so progress can be tracked.
Premier Peter Malinauskas praised the work of the Royal Commission, noting the breadth of consultation behind its recommendations. He said the scale of the financial commitment reflects the seriousness of the issue and the need to protect South Australians.
Minister Katrine Hildyard echoed the point that the reforms require patience and unity across government and community groups. She highlighted the involvement of survivors in designing key measures and said the Lived Experience Advisory Network will play an ongoing role in shaping the system.
While many sector leaders have welcomed the investment, some are already raising questions about implementation. Community organisations warn that without careful coordination and sustained funding, reforms can lose momentum once public attention moves on. Others point out that demand for services continues to rise, meaning the new measures will need constant evaluation to ensure they meet real-world needs.
Even so, there is broad agreement that the Royal Commission offered a rare opportunity to rethink how the state approaches domestic, family and sexual violence. The Government’s plan attempts to bring together immediate safety interventions with longer-term cultural and structural reform. Whether the next decade delivers the change survivors hope for will depend on steady delivery, open communication with the sector and a willingness to adjust where needed.
For now, the state has a roadmap, money on the table and a clear expectation from the community that the next steps must be practical, compassionate and transparent.
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