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Domestic Violence Regional Strategy Groups (RSGs)

Overview

Domestic and family violence is a complex issue that requires a coordinated response to make change.
 
There are a number of agencies across the NSW Government that are working to address domestic and family violence from their areas of expertise. These include: Department of Education, NSW Health, the Department of Communities and Justice, and NSW Police Force.

Domestic Violence Regional Strategy Groups (RSGs)

RSGs were established in 2017-18 to support the Premier’s Priority to reduce domestic violence reoffending.  The RSGs operate across four police regions with high rates of reoffending North West Metro, South West Metro, Northern and Western NSW.

RSGs provide a regionally based forum for agencies to work collaboratively on identifying and resolving issues and developing regional domestic and family violence solutions.
 
The RSGs bring together government agencies at a regional level to:
  • Develop and implement place based solutions
  • Strengthen partnerships and collaborations
  • Strengthen regional governance 

Key activities

Action Plans have been developed for each RSG that identify focus areas and projects for the region:
  • North West Metro RSG: engaging young people experiencing domestic and family violence
  • South West Metro RSG: engaging people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities experiencing domestic and family violence; and workforce capability
  • Northern RSG: cognitive impairment, mental health and alcohol and drug abuse services for domestic and family violence perpetrators; service system analysis
  • Western RSG: youth domestic and family violence education and engagement; mental health and alcohol and drug abuse services for domestic and family violence perpetrators; and service system analysis

Benefits

An independent process evaluation in December 2018 found RSGs added significant value as a regional governance framework as they:
  • foster interagency collaboration and strengthened working relationships between a broad group of stakeholders, including NGOs and peak bodies to address regional issues 
  • foster information sharing on key issues that supported improvements to domestic and family violence policy, project development and frontline service delivery 
  • consult with frontline workers to identify, build evidence and better understood issues across three regions
  • provide a forum to monitor and support the implementation of local strategies and initiatives through data analysis.