SA’s Royal Commission into domestic, family and sexual violence
The South Australian Royal Commission into domestic, family and sexual violence started on 1 July 2024.
Systemic change is desperately needed in our state to ensure that women and their children can live safely and without fear.
The Royal Commission will enable us to thoroughly understand the barriers to safety for women, children and others experiencing violence right across our entire service system – both specialist services and our health, mental health, child protection and justice systems.
The Commissioner, Natasha Stott Despoja AO, will deliver her report to the South Australian Government on 1 July 2025, making recommendations about what needs to change to create a safer community.
Learn more about the Royal Commission and keep up to date with the Commission’s activities and engagements by subscribing to the Commission’s newsletter.
Public Hearings
The Royal Commission into domestic, family and sexual violence is conducting Public Hearings. Full videos from the four Public Hearings held so far can be viewed on the Royal Commission’s webpage here.
Embolden’s submissions to the Royal Commission
Embolden’s two submissions to the Royal Commission were informed by the experience and expertise of Embolden’s members – SA’s specialist domestic, family and sexual violence services – and make clear recommendations to drive transformative change in how South Australia prevents and responds to domestic, family and sexual violence. Our first submission focused on the overarching system elements needed for an effective public health response to domestic, family and sexual violence – a response that drives whole-of-government action and accountability and strengthens the focus on prevention and early intervention. The submission included the Roadmap for Lived Experience Engagement, developed in partnership with the Domestic and Family Violence Safety Alliance, and a report on South Australia’s DFSV workforce.
Embolden’s second submission focused on the services and systems that people experiencing or using violence interact with, across the key areas outlined in the Royal Commission’s terms of reference: prevention, early intervention, crisis response, recovery and healing, and service integration and coordination.