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 and the State Government released the report on 19 August 2025.
Systemic change is desperately needed in our state to ensure that women and their children can live safely and without fear.
The Commissioner, Natasha Stott Despoja AO, delivered her report to the South Australian Government, making recommendations about what needs to change to create a safer community. The State Government released the report on 19 August 2025 with immediate acceptance of 7 of the 136 recommendations. Read the Royal Commission’s final report With Courage: South Australia’s vision beyond violence.
Embolden’s statement on the release of the Royal Commission report
Embolden sees the Royal Commissioner’s 136 recommendations as a blueprint for transformative change. We have a vital opportunity to get it right and for South Australia to again be a national leader in preventing and responding to domestic, family and sexual violence.
Embolden will release a more detailed consideration of the Royal Commission’s recommendations in mid-September.
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.