Working together for a Tasmania free from family and sexual violence

The Alliance (sometimes referred to as the TFSVA) is the creation of Tasmanian victim-survivors and specialist family and sexual violence organisations, who seek to apply increased collective strength to eliminate gendered violence.

Our purpose is to transform the culture and systems that hold gender inequity and violence in place.

The establishment of the a peak body for our sector was a key action in Tasmania’s Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan 2022-2027, “to improve coordination of family and sexual violence services, and advice on policy development and service design.”

Tasmanian women experience sexual violence and intimate partner violence at the second highest rate of all Australian states and territories (behind only the Northern Territory)*.  And more than 1 in 4 people have experienced child sexual abuse**.

The Tasmanian Government’s Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan called for the investigation into ‘the establishment of a Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Peak to improve coordination of family and sexual violence services and advice on policy development and design.’

A strong, coordinated peak body aims to provide a systemic response to family and sexual violence (including child sexual abuse) in lutruwita/Tasmania. We intend to work collaboratively across the family and sexual violence sector to develop policy and advocate for system improvement, provide trusted advice to government, and support building sector capacity to improve service delivery.

In 2023, the Tasmanian government committed investment into the exploration of the establishment of a family and sexual violence peak body. A Steering Committee was formed to lead this work. Committee membership included representatives from specialist and non-specialist services including: Women’s Health Tasmania, Engender Equality, SASS, Laurel House, Yemaya, Huon Valley Domestic Violence Services, Women’s Legal Service Tasmania, and individuals with lived experience.

Stakeholders across the community sector; including non-specialist services and individuals with lived experience, were invited to contribute to consultations to inform the development of the strategic plan and key elements of the constitution. In January 2024, the Steering Committee incorporated the Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance under the Incorporated Associations Act of Tasmania.

Under the Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan 2022-2027, the Tasmanian Government has allocated $170,000 in each of 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support TFSVA with an additional $200,000 in each of 2024-25 and 2025-26 from the Australian Government under the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses National Partnership Agreement.

TFSVA will begin operating with a total 2.2FTE representing:

• a Chief Executive Officer
• a Sector Engagement Officer, and
• an Administration Support Officer

In 2025, the Alliance’s priorities include:

• developing TFSVA’s membership base and governance framework
• engaging broadly and directly with the family and sexual violence sector
• seeking partnerships of respect and understanding with Tasmanian Aboriginal people
• gaining deeper lived experience perspectives on service demand and innovative service approaches
• identifying ways to meet current and projected need and demand for family and sexual violence services in Tasmania
• responding to requests from government for whole-of-sector policy submissions relating to family violence, sexual violence and child sexual abuse
• collecting and disseminating relevant state and national information to Tasmania’s family and sexual violence services sector.

To shape the membership of TFSVA and enable us to fulfill our role of representingthe family and sexual violence sector, we are currently consulting with a broadrange of stakeholders. Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates on upcoming consultation and engagement opportunities.