On behalf of the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council we extend our best wishes to the readership and staff of Star News for a safe and positive year in 2026.
For many of us the start of a new year brings personal goals and achievement hopes. In terms of the prevention of domestic and family violence, we also extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who have worked and contributed in 2025, and in previous years, to the goals of prevention and best practice responses.
Without those efforts the situation as it is at the beginning of this year would have been far worse.
The reality is that it remains a crisis and exists in every community in Queensland and throughout the country.
Some sobering statistics of the last year in Queensland, were that 21 men, women and children lost their lives to domestic violence homicide, and the Queensland Police responded to over 200,000 calls for service related to domestic violence, a number that increases every year and is by far their greatest area of activity.
These deaths are the tip of a very dark iceberg that also contains hospitalisations, physical injuries, emotional and psychological harm, fear and ongoing trauma. Not just for the victims but also the countless children who are exposed to it.
All the agencies and entities involved in responding to these incidents are under pressure, crisis accommodation being one very critical example.
What remains particularly concerning is that reliable research indicates that most domestic violence is not being reported.
Whilst all response activity is both essential and commendable, we think that it is unarguable that prevention to the greatest extent possible is also vitally important.
We also believe that despite the great work of the many organisations involved, ultimately the societal change we need is when enough people in their local communities say ‘this is not on, it’s not acceptable’ and not only express those views by raising their voices, but also do whatever they can to change mindsets in their own circles of influence.
So, our ask of you in 2026 is to be one of those people. At the end of this year, it will be one of your most important, necessary and valuable contributions.
To stay informed on this issue, continue to support the Road to Respect campaign in Star News, subscribe to the Prevention Council’s monthly newsletter (https://tinyurl.com/y3sxjcts ) and follow and support your local domestic violence specialist service.
Vanessa Fowler OAM and Bob Atkinson AO APM co-chair the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council. The Prevention Council is working to embed a zero-tolerance approach to domestic and family violence within our communities and across Queensland.
