NATSIAACC has made a submission in response to government engagement on the establishment of a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) Peak Body.

As the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ageing and aged care, our submission emphasises that Elders and Older People must be explicitly recognised within the design, leadership and priorities of the new Peak Body, as they are too often invisible in family, domestic and sexual violence policy and service systems.

While the proposed Peak Body focuses on FDSV across the life course, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Older People experience violence within intersecting systems of aged care, health, housing and community support. NATSIAACC’s input is therefore critical to ensure Elder safety, dignity and cultural authority are embedded from the outset.

We emphasise that true safety for Elders and Older People is achieved when responses to violence are grounded in cultural governance, community control, healing and intergenerational wellbeing — not solely crisis-driven or punitive models.

Our key recommendations include:

• Embedding strong Elder representation and cultural authority within the Peak Body’s governance and decision-making structures.

• Ensuring community control is central, including accountability to local Elders, cultural protocols and Indigenous Data Sovereignty.

• Establishing genuine partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peaks, including NATSIAACC, under the Coalition of Peaks framework.

• Prioritising healing, trauma-aware and culturally grounded responses to FDSV, including Elder abuse as part of the continuum of violence.

• Developing governance models that reflect kinship, cultural lore/law and shared leadership principles.

• Securing long-term, flexible funding to support sustainable, community-led solutions.

• Promoting culturally safe data, research and evaluation frameworks that recognise Elder experiences and voices.

This submission forms part of NATSIAACC’s ongoing advocacy to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Older People are protected through systems that restore cultural authority, strengthen community-led healing, and uphold their right to live safe, respected and connected lives.

Click here to download a copy of NATSIAACC’s Submission.