“The starting point, not the finish line”: JFA Purple Orange welcomes Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Final Report

JFA Purple Orange has welcomed the final report from South Australia’s Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, calling it an important step forward, but warning that the real work starts now. 

“It’s the starting point, not the finish line,” said Tracey Wallace, Strategy Leader at JFA Purple Orange. 

“We’re pleased to see the report recognises the barriers people with disability face, and includes clear, disability-specific recommendations. But what matters most now is a whole of government commitment to action – with funding, urgency, and people with disability included at the centre of reform.” 

People with disability face greater risk and fewer supports 

The Royal Commission confirms what many already know: South Australia’s domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) system is crisis-driven, underfunded, and hard to navigate. It also highlighted the additional complexities women and children with disability face in navigating and accessing services, including: 

• People who rely on daily support are more vulnerable to coercion and abuse.

• Violence can come from intimate partners, family, carers or support workers.

• Services are often physically, communicatively, and attitudinally inaccessible.

• Crisis accommodation is frequently unsuitable, inaccessible or unsafe.

• Reporting violence can lead to loss of disability supports.

• Systems don’t work together; people fall through the cracks.

Clear, practical recommendations must now be implemented

JFA Purple Orange welcomes several key disability-specific recommendations that will help build a more inclusive system, including:

• Recommendation 103: Audit emergency accommodation for safety and accessibility.
• Recommendation 113: Family Violence Disability Liaison Officers.
• Recommendation 121: A witness intermediary scheme for people with complex communication needs. 

“These are strong and achievable reforms. But they will only succeed if developed in partnership with people with disability and backed by adequate funding.”

“The disability community have expressed continual disappointment with the State and Commonwealth on the lacklustre response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. We cannot let more people with disability be harmed because of government inaction,” Ms Wallace said.

State-based independent advocacy is essential – and still missing

JFA Purple Orange believes the report also highlights the vital role of independent advocacy in supporting people with disability to navigate the domestic, family and sexual violence system – these are state services and the state’s responsibility (health, housing, police, emergency services, etc).

“We have long called for state-based funding for independent advocacy services in South Australia. Without this support, people with disability are often left to navigate complex and unsafe systems alone and end up falling through the cracks.”

“Reform will not happen overnight; we must ensure that women and children with disability can access services they need now,” Ms Wallace said.

Further information & interviews

Marissa Brown – Leader, Marketing and Communications

Phone: 8373 8388

Email: media@juliafarr.org.au