MOREE Women’s Refuge – Ngala House – has warmly welcomed the Minns Labor Government’s announcement of the Pathways to Prevention strategy and its $38.3 million commitment to stopping domestic, family, and sexual violence before it starts.

As part of the program, more than $1 million will be invested in Local Government NSW to support councils and communities across the state in preventing domestic and family violence.

Ngala House relieving manager, Carmel Sullivan, said refuge board members and staff are especially encouraged by the investment of more than $1 million to empower councils to lead co-ordinated prevention efforts.

“In regional and rural communities like ours, local councils are often the first point of connection and play a crucial role in shaping attitudes and community culture,” Ms Sullivan said.

“Their strengthened role in primary prevention – supported by practical resources, specialist staff, and training – has the potential to make a lasting impact.”

The implementation of the $38.3 million Primary Prevention Strategy goes hand-in-hand with ongoing work to eliminate domestic, family and sexual violence through early intervention, crisis response and recovery.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said eliminating domestic and family violence is a complex challenge.

“To achieve this goal, it requires the whole of government and the whole of community to work together,” Mr Hoenig said.

“As the closest level of government to communities, councils can play an important role in preventing gendered violence and help build a society that promotes gender equality, healthy relationships and is free from violence.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said domestic, family and sexual violence is preventable – and primary prevention is about stopping it before it starts.

“We want to work with local communities on the ground to change the underlying beliefs and cultures across our society that have tolerated – and even condoned – violence against women and children,” she said.

“We can’t do this alone. We need councils – and the communities they represent – to help.

“Our investment in primary prevention complements our ongoing work to support victim-survivors of domestic and family violence and ensure perpetrators are held to account.”

Carmel Sullivan said Ngala House in Moree, as a frontline service, works every day with women and children impacted by violence.

”We understand that prevention is just as critical as crisis response,” Ms Sullivan said.

“This strategy recognises that true change comes when we challenge the root causes of violence – gender inequality, rigid gender roles, and community silence – and replace them with

respect, equity, and education.

“We particularly welcome the strategy’s inclusive, whole-of-community approach and the

focus on collaboration across sectors, including sport, government and local services.

“For towns like Moree, where community ties run deep and the needs of vulnerable populations

are unique, this type of joined-up approach is essential.

“We thank the Ministers and all involved in championing this initiative. The message is clear: violence is preventable, and we all have a role to play,” she said.

The partnership builds on the recent launch of the Multi-Sport Coalition for primary prevention, bringing together professional sports clubs, state sporting organisations, industry stakeholders and the government to use their influence to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence and progress gender equality through sport.

The whole-of-community approach to primary prevention, aims to help change attitudes that condone violence against women and children.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said sport is part of the fabric of communities across New South Wales.

“Sporting organisations, both amateur and professional, can play a powerful role in influencing community attitudes,” Mr Kamper said.

“The NSW Government is working together with sporting organisations, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place for domestic, family or sexual violence in our society.

“This partnership is about using the influence of sport to drive cultural change and build a safer New South Wales for women and children.”