The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre welcomes the Australian Government’s decision to open an inquiry into the relationship between domestic, family and sexual violence and suicide.
The inquiry, called for by Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek MP, represents an important step toward building a stronger national understanding of how domestic, family and sexual violence contributes to suicidality, self-harm and long-term health outcomes.
The Centre’s Executive Director, Sally Stevenson, said the inquiry acknowledges what victim-survivors, frontline workers and researchers have been highlighting for years.
“We know from women with lived experience and emerging evidence that domestic, family and sexual violence has profound impacts on mental health and wellbeing,” Ms Stevenson said.
“For many women, the trauma of violence continues long after the immediate danger has passed. Understanding these impacts is essential to preventing further harm and ensuring recovery is possible.”
Recent findings outlined by the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission highlight the urgent need for action.
Intimate partner violence remains one of the leading contributors to years of healthy life lost due to suicide and self-inflicted injury among women.
The commission’s yearly report highlighted coroner data in Victoria, which showed almost a quarter of suicides between 2009 and 2016 involved evidence of family violence.
Ms Stevenson said better data will enable improved responses.
“We cannot design services or policies that fully meet the needs of victim-survivors if we don’t understand the true extent of DFSV-related harm,” she said.
“This inquiry is an opportunity to strengthen research, improve coordination across services, and ensure all voices, particularly those who have historically been underrepresented, are heard.”
The Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs adopted the inquiry on October 28, 2025. It is seeking written submissions by January 30, 2026, on the relationship between domestic, family and sexual violence victimisation and suicide, and how more accurate data and trends on deaths can be obtained.
The committee is examining systemic issues and cannot investigate or assist with individual cases.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the services below:
- Suicide Call Back Service:1300 659 467
- 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732
- Lifeline: Call 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
- 13YARN: 13 92 76
- Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
- Headspace: 1800 650 890