Community-Driven, Culturally Safe: What Makes This Aboriginal Violence Prevention Model Different

A groundbreaking $3.8 million investment into Aboriginal-led domestic and family violence programs is turning traditional funding models on their head, emphasising Aboriginal self-determination, cultural safety and local knowledge.

Unlike traditional top-down models, this new approach allows communities themselves to identify needs, design interventions and lead implementation, which should result in culturally safe, trauma-responsive support tailored precisely to community needs.

Rachael Dungay, Chairperson of Ngarrra Aboriginal Corporation explained:

“Through this initiative, Ngarra Aboriginal Corporation aims to help participants find their identity, stay grounded in their culture, and develop respectful, non-violent solutions to challenges they face.”

Projects receiving funding exemplify this bottom-up model.

And programs like Healing Strong in the Hunter region and Jeff Amatto’s cultural healing circles in Wellington and Cessnock are not externally imposed; they originate directly from community knowledge and lived experience.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs David Harris described the funding model as transformative:

“We know the best way to close the gap for Aboriginal victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence is for Aboriginal people to shape and drive outcomes in partnership with Government and this program is a great example of that.”

By investing directly into community-led and culturally safe solutions, NSW aims to set a new benchmark in effective violence prevention and community empowerment.