Our Watch has welcomed the NSW Government’s commitment of $38 million to implement its first Strategy to Prevent Domestic, Family and Sexual violence.

Our Watch has worked closely with the NSW Government in support of the Strategy’s development.

CEO Patty Kinnersly said the Strategy provides an important foundation for prevention in NSW.

“We all want to live in a safe community with healthy relationships. However, without dedicated and sustained investment in the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence, we can’t stop this violence before it starts.

“This strategy acknowledges and builds on work already being done and outlines government commitment to developing the building blocks for prevention to be most effective (prevention infrastructure) and key priority areas,” she said.

The Prevention Strategy will:

• contribute to strategic, coordinated and effective prevention work across NSW
• avoid duplication and support effective use of government investment
• provide clear roles and responsibilities for governments, organisations and the community, because prevention is everyone’s business.
• align with, complement and help support implementation of other government frameworks, plans and commitments.

Ms Kinnersly also welcomed the pilot of respectful relationships education in the early childhood education and care sector.

“This is an important piece of research. There is growing evidence of the importance of whole-of-school respectful relationships education in our schools, starting with age-appropriate content in kindergarten,” she said. “This trial will inform the evidence on starting those learnings in pre-school.

“We know that to stop violence before it starts, young people and children need to learn and have modelled around them, healthy ways to respectfully engage with friends, families and carers, and to learn body autonomy.”

Please contact media@ourwatch.org.au or call 0448 844 930.

If you cover this story, or any story regarding violence against women and children, please include the following tagline:

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732.

To access guides for reporting about violence against women and their children, visit media.ourwatch.org.au.

Our Watch is a national leader in Australia’s work to stop violence against women and their children before it starts. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms, and structures that lead to violence against women and children.