Australia’s first National Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence Commissioner

Last week Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston announced Catherine Fitzpatrick will be Australia’s first National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner. Ms Fitzpatrick will lead the establishment of the National Domestic Family & Sexual Violence Commission, as recommended by the House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence.

“Ms Fitzpatrick has 30 years’ experience across private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including
as the Director of Customer Vulnerability and Financial Resilience at Westpac and Chair of the
National Women’s Safety Alliance Policy and Advocacy Advisory Committee.” Minister Ruston said.

The Commission will oversee the implementation of the next National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children and support the Government in providing policy leadership, developing and fostering relationships across the sector and ensuring greater cooperation between the Commonwealth, states and territories in delivering the targets and objectives of the next National Plan.