Establishing a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Body to address Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence

The story so far

For years the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector has been calling for the establishment of a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Body to address Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence.

In 2023, the Australian Government acted on these calls and included the establishment of a Peak Body as a key action in the dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023–2025 (Action Plan) under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2021-2031.

In May 2025, the Department of Social Services engaged the Coalition of Peaks Secretariat, on behalf of the sector, to lead the establishment of the Peak Body, building on decades of advocacy by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the expertise of community-controlled organisations and the strong foundation of existing peak bodies.

The Peak Body will coordinate efforts to improve safety and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and contribute to achieving Target 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap – reducing family violence against First Nations women and children by at least 50% by 2031.

 

Project timelines

This work is a sector priority and is progressing quickly. The Peak Body will be functionally operational by the end of the year and formally launched in March. Key milestones include:

May 2025 - Project commences

July 2025 – Establishment Steering Committee stood up

September 2025 – October 2025 – Sector engagement

November 2025 – CEO recruitment

December 2025 – Peak Body operational

March 2026 – Peak Body Official Launch

What we’re doing

The Coalition of Peaks Secretariat is working to establish a new National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Body to address Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.

This involves designing the Peak Body’s scope and operating model, incorporating the organisation and getting the Peak Body operational so it can begin its work to support our services and communities.

We know the Peak Body must reflect and represent the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, services and sectors it will support. This is why the project is being overseen by an Establishment Steering Committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector leaders and sector engagement will inform the Peak Body’s scope and operating model.

 

Who’s involved in the project

The establishment of the Peak Body is being overseen by an Establishment Steering Committee. The Committee includes:

  • 8 representatives from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector

  • 1 representative from the Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices Steering Committee

  • 1 representative from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council on family, domestic and sexual violence, and

  • 1 representative from the Coalition of Peaks Secretariat

We’ve also engaged King & Wood Mallesons to provide us with legal and governance advice to set the Peak Body up for success.

The Peak Body’s functions, priorities and operating model will also be heavily shaped and informed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector. More information on sector engagement and how you can be involved is outlined below.

 

Getting involved

Throughout September and October, we will be engaging with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector to seek input and feedback on the Peak Body’s scope and operating model.

We know there have been a lot of national consultations across the family, domestic and sexual violence sector recently. We’ve taken what has been said in these previous consultations and used it as a starting point for the Peak Body’s scope and operating model.

Throughout engagement, we’ll be asking for the sector’s input and feedback on specific parts of the Peak, not asking you to tell us what you’ve said before.

There are many ways you can contribute to the establishment of the Peak Body including:

  • A national online survey (open from 17 September to 10 October)

  • Online sector-specific workshops

  • Online national workshops

  • Through your national or jurisdictional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Body

While our focus on engaging directly with services delivering family, domestic and sexual violence response, prevention, early intervention and advocacy services, we warmly welcome contributions from the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector and community members.

 

Contact us

If you have any questions about the project or would like more information on how to get involved, please contact the secretariat using the email address below or by using messaging us here.

secretariat@coalitionofpeaks.org.au