SA’s Royal Commission into domestic, family and sexual violence
The South Australian Royal Commission into domestic, family and sexual violence released its recommendations on 19 August 2025, and the State Government delivered its response on 12 December 2025.
Systemic change is desperately needed in our state to ensure all those experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence 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.
The State Government released its response to the Royal Commission recommendations, with acceptance – either wholly, in part or in principle – of 129 of the Royal Commission’s 136 recommendations and commitment of $674m over 10 years. Read the State Government’s response Building Safer Futures: SA Government Response to the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.
Embolden’s statement on the SA Government’s response to the Royal Commission
Embolden welcomes the State Government’s acceptance of 129 of 136 recommendations and significant investment of $674 million over the next decade. While responding to crisis will always be important, we must strengthen and maintain our collective focus on intervening earlier and supporting victim-survivors’ longer-term recovery and healing, regardless of who they are or where they live. This is critical to prevent violence and protect current and future generations from harm.
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 and a vital opportunity for system reform. It is important that our state takes a strategic approach to implementation, underpinned by genuine partnership between State Government, the specialist sector and people with lived experience. Implementation needs to be measured, sustainable and ensure that systems are ready to support victim-survivors.
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.