AUSTRALIA’S first Royal Commission into Family Violence has called for a mandatory curriculum to be implemented in every school in a bid to curb the cycle of abuse.
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The state government pledged to implement all 227 recommendations released in a report on Wednesday, and vowed to completely overhaul a ‘broken’ system.
Moments after tabling the report, Premier Daniel Andrews vowed to punish perpetrators, listen to survivors and change a culture that has allowed family violence to flourish.
“There can be no more excuses,” he said.
“Our work begins today to overhaul our broken family violence system from the bottom up.”
Marcia Neave, a former Justice of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria, chaired the royal commission.
The report details how the current system is failing violence survivors and the need for change.
Stronger accountability of perpetrators, more police resources, family violence training at hospitals and schools and the establishment of an independent agency to hold governments to account are among some of the report’s recommendations.
The government has also committed to introducing new laws to ensure the privacy of perpetrators does not trump the safety of victims.
Victoria's first Family Violence Prevention Minister Fiona Richardson said the government wanted lasting generational reform that changes attitudes and behaviours.
“We want to create a new system that helps prevent violence and gives victims and survivors the support they need,” she said.
Victoria Police has backed the use of more investigative and mobile technology, including a trial of body-worn cameras and personal safety devices.
They also supported training for officers to increase their understanding of family violence.
