Aboriginal communities have been advocating for community-controlled programs to prevent and address family violence in their communities for many years and in 2022, the Department of Communities provided funding to address FDSV through our community controlled health services. At the Rural Health West Aboriginal Health Conference held on August 10 and 11 in Walyalup (Fremantle), AHCWA’s Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) Pilot Program had an opportunity to showcase the work being done within some of our communities to end violence. AHCWA presented alongside the team from Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Service (NAHS), Ane, Apisalome, Heidi and community Elder Vera, who spoke about how they have been growing the FDSV program in Wiluna.

The NAHS team presented on how they have developed their FDSV service through a community led, placed-based co-designed process acknowledging that co-design is an ongoing process with community. The team expressed the importance of a community collaborative approach which includes working with the biomedical clinic, police, and mental health services to support and respond to real time crisis situations. Informed by the community, they are working to create a sustainable, long-term and practical FDSV service within a remote community on the edge of the Western Desert, providing the community with opportunities to talk about violence in ways that are culturally safe. Addressing violence within the community was a taboo subject and the NAHS team has created a feeling of hope that ending violence in our communities is within reach.