The Victim Survivor Voice is a peer-led pilot program open to people over the age of 18 who have lived or living experience of domestic, family, and/or sexual violence (DFSV) and live in the ACT and surrounding regions. The project’s purpose is to understand participants’ lived experiences of DFSV support services and systems in the ACT, and incorporate this knowledge into efforts to address DFSV across the Territory. 

In the ACT Government 2025-26 Budget, the pilot received an additional investment of $646,000, allowing the project to continue building a complex understanding of services and systems in place to support victim survivors and how they could be improved to achieve better outcomes. This represents a major commitment by the ACT Government to address systemic issues in how victim survivors are supported and empowered after experiences of violence. 

Since March, the Victim Survivor Voice team has facilitated in-depth discussion sessions with over 20 victim survivors to consult on developing an ACT Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Strategy (the Strategy). We have used qualitative analysis to identify priority areas of focus and are currently seeking additional validation of these findings with Victim Survivor Voice participants before presenting our results to the ACT Government later this year. 

We are also working closely with a Victorian organisation the ACT Government have engaged to help develop the Strategy, Impact Co., to ensure that local insights we are hearing through the Victim Survivor Voice are informing their work. 

We are now working towards our next consultation phases, which will focus on improving ACT responses to coercive control, and working with Queensland based organisation WWILD to co-design DFSV training for disability support workers.  

You can find more information on the project and register your interest in joining the Victim Survivor Voice online.