In Australia, the recently-elected government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children. The 12-year plan, which was drafted in consultation with experts and is grounded in evidence-based practices, envisages an approach that focuses on both preventative measures and services for victims.
Examples of prevention initiatives include integrating “respectful relationships” into the Australian educational curriculum and establishing a National Centre of Excellence to research and evaluate domestic violence programs. Funding will also be directed to specific communities such as disabled or gay and lesbian women.
The plan also allocates money for victim's services and calls for an expanded investigation into how Australia’s family law system impacts victims of violence.
Compiled from: National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children, Australian Labor Party, WUNRN.com, (19 August 2010).