The Royal Commission continues to undertake our significant program of sector engagement and consultation, including more regional visits and establishing key partnerships to assist with our ongoing inquiries.

In addition to visits to Port Pirie and Port Augusta last month, I have also spent important time meeting community and sector leaders in Kangaroo Island and Mount Gambier. These visits provide valuable insights and information about service delivery in regional South Australia, and the gaps that exist.

Regional and remote parts of our state certainly present unique service provision complexities, so it is important that we continue to seek relevant information about this, and delve more deeply into the systems, agencies and processes.

We have also been busy in metropolitan Adelaide over the past couple of weeks, meeting with, among others, Australian Refugees Association, judges from the Youth Court, Nunga Mi:Minar, the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and People April Lawrie, e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, the LGBTQIA+ Ministerial Advisory Council and the State Voice, Embolden as well as a site visit to the Northern DV Hub and the Adelaide Remand Centre.

I also chaired the first meeting of our Royal Commission Advisory Group, which was established to support and provide advice to our ongoing work. I want to thank the members of the group - Arman Abrahimzadeh OAM, Rosie Batty AO, Dr Alastair McEwin AM, Dr Anu Mundkur and Ms Vicky Welgraven AM. I am extremely grateful for the experience and expertise that they bring to the table. Details of the members are on our website.

Another significant piece of work has also been completed, with the formation of the Commission’s Aboriginal Partnership Committee. This group will contribute to a very important part of the Commission’s work, and I am looking forward to working with the members over the coming months.

The Committee is a unique partnership between the Commission and the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON).

It includes representatives from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) with expertise in the areas of domestic, family and sexual violence services.

I co-chair the Committee with lead convenor of SAACCON Scott Wilson, and am very pleased to welcome Olive Bennell from Nunga Mi:Minar – Northen Regional Aboriginal Family Violence Service and Tosha Sambo from the Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation SA to the group.

My aim is for the Committee to recommend measures to strengthen the delivery of domestic, family and sexual violence support services to Aboriginal people and Aboriginal communities. You can learn more on our website.

More broadly, the Commission is continuing our “listening phase”, meeting with many groups and individuals, talking specifically about issues that are impacting those who experience domestic, family and sexual violence, as well as those who work in the sector.

I am grateful for the time people have taken to provide the Commission with their insights, information and stories. As a result of these meetings, sessions and submissions, we are starting to see themes emerging, and this information will help inform our Public Hearings later this year.

I would again encourage you to keep an eye on our website for updates, and for more news early next month for our “Share With Us” tool.

Natasha Stott Despoja AO

Commissioner