Consultations are shaping a 10-year FDSV strategy

Our Ways Strong Together has 38 confirmed member organisations as consultations continue on a national action plan for family, domestic and sexual violence.

The national community-controlled peak body launched in April 2026 after decades of advocacy from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

It is working with the Department of Social Services to develop the Action Plan for the Our Ways Our Voices Strategy, which Our Ways Strong Together describes as Australia’s first 10-year community-controlled national strategy on family, domestic and sexual violence.

To shape that plan, the organisation is consulting community-controlled organisations, service providers and people with lived experience across the country.

19 organisations join across six jurisdictions

Nineteen organisations were accepted as members. They are Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland (Maruma-li-mari), Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, Boorndawan Willam, Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community, Bungree Aboriginal Association Limited, Bunmabunmarra Services Australia, Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service, Danila Dilba Health Service, Darwin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Shelter, Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation, Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre, KWY Aboriginal Corporation, Marnin Bowa Dumbara Aboriginal Corporation, Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women’s Corporation, Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Service Community (NAHS), Ngarra Aboriginal Corporation, Tiraapendi Wodli and Wunan Foundation.

Those members come from Queensland, the Northern Territory, Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia. Victoria’s listed member is Boorndawan Willam.

Chief executive Olga Havnen AM said the growth showed demand for a national community-controlled voice.

“38 members and counting tells us services want to be part of building something bigger than any one organisation,” Havnen said.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations can become members if they provide family, domestic and sexual violence services or support, either as their main purpose or as part of broader service delivery.

Havnen said each new member and each consultation was helping shape what a community-controlled response to family violence will look like over the next 10 years.

Related: Submissions open on two air