This week, the Royal Commission completed our final two Public Hearings for 2024, providing valuable insights into key areas of interest including prevention in schools and behavioural change programs.

The two sessions – on Tuesday and Wednesday – were extremely helpful for the Commission’s ongoing inquiries into the education system in South Australia, and the role schools play in delivering appropriate and effective primary prevention and education to young people, as well as behavioural change and intervention programs within SA – and the challenges with their availability and delivery.

I was particularly honored to hear from a group of women from the Fregon Anangu School, and their Principal Sara Porzio, who explained the way their community share stories through their art. It was a powerful message about why we need to hear from regional and remote communities, as well as look at locally delivered and culturally appropriate programs - particularly by and for Aboriginal people.

All of the hearings to date have provided me with direct and relevant witness testimony, adding to the growing suite of data and information we are compiling through our ongoing listening sessions, submissions and Share With Us online survey.

Full video from each of the four Public Hearings to date can be viewed through our website.

I again want to thank everyone who has taken the time to offer their personal stories about their interactions with the domestic, family and violence system in South Australia.

Both the submissions and Share With Us portal have now closed. In total, there were more than 800 responses to Share With Us, and more than 350 submissions. All of that information is now being collated and considered, and will go towards refining our emerging themes summary and, into next year, help develop our final report and recommendations.

While that work continues, we have locked in multiple Public Hearings for early in 2025, including topics to inquire into services for children and young people, justice responses and multidisciplinary approaches to domestic, family and sexual violence.

We also have several listening sessions and regional visits planned for January and February, and I look forward to sharing more details about them soon.

Natasha Stott Despoja AO

Royal Commissioner