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In July 2026, Our Watch provided a submission to the Department of Social Services consultation on the development of the Second Action Plan (2027–2032) under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
Our Watch's submission outlines key opportunities to strengthen national efforts to address the underlying drivers of violence and achieve long-term, population-level change. Our recommendations draw on the evidence base for prevention, consultation with key stakeholders, insights from implementation across jurisdictions, and lessons from delivery of the First Action Plan.
The submission sets out the key opportunities and priorities for strengthening the primary prevention of gender-based violence across Australia. It focuses on what Australia needs to do to build a stronger, more coordinated and effective prevention system over the next five years. This includes maintaining a strong focus on primary prevention as a core pillar of the National Plan and scaling primary prevention nationally, as a universal, whole-of-population approach.
Our Watch's submission to inform the Second Action Plan (2027–2032)
The submission identifies the prevention priorities most strongly supported through our consultation, including:
- engaging men and boys and transforming masculinities
- investing in the early years, children and young people through a life-course approach
- spanning early childhood education and care, Respectful relationships education and tertiary settings
- greater investment in and coordination of sexual violence prevention
- activating workplaces, sport and education as settings for prevention
- community-led and place-based approaches, including the under-recognised role of local government
- addressing digital and technology-facilitated abuse
- dedicated prevention activities with and for priority communities, including LGBTIQA+ people, women and girls with disabilities, migrant and refugee women, and older women.