DVAC Strategic Plan 2026–2031
Local services creating freedom and safety from domestic and sexual violence for over 30 years
WHO we are
DVAC is a grass roots organisation delivering services in our local communities to support victim survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence. We work with people who are using violence to create long lasting change and partner with the community and service’s for results. We are a values-based charity with specialist service delivery standards and accreditation.
Our PURPOSE
We provide services that support victim survivors on their journey towards freedom, safety and healing from domestic, family and sexual violence. We deliver quality services in our local communities. We partner to create lasting change for the women and families who we service.
Our VISION
To reduce the impacts of gender based violence in our local communities through quality grass roots services.
Our VALUES underpin everything we do
Community
Building inclusive networks and enduring relationships
Accountability
Acting with transparency and accountability
Resilience
Empowering individuals and communities sustaining organisational strength
WHAT we’re doing
STRENGTHENING foundations
Celebrate our successes and consolidate the things that have made us successful, whilst building the capability we need as a larger and more complex organisation.
Focus areas
Leadership
People and culture
Business systems
HOW we’re doing it
- Provide tailored leadership development and training opportunities for leaders
- Uplift in internal capability for managing complex workforce environments
- Design and implement performance management frameworks, employee engagement programs, and business systems commensurate with the organisational evolution of DVAC
DELIVERING quality services
Build on our history providing specialist professional services and continue to achieve real outcomes for clients.
Focus areas
Services for victim-survivors
Services for people who use violence
Continuous quality improvement
Specialist practice knowledge
- Providing services to clients that:
- increase self determination, choice and agency
- improve healthy family functioning
- improve access to support
- increase safety for adult and child victims of DFSV
- increased knowledge and understanding of DFSV
- promote accountability for people using DFSV
- Delivering services that meet contractual and regulatory requirements
- Delivering robust continuous quality improvement and embedded organisational learning culture
- Specialist practice frameworks that are evidence based and effective and partner with the integrated service system
- Rights and dignity of victim survivors are considered in the design and delivery of all services
- Services are accessible and culturally safe
NURTURING sustainability
Nurture and grow the elements of a healthy, sustainable organisation.
Focus areas
Governance
Financial sustainability
Workforce
- Uplift in operational and strategic governance
- Diversifying revenue sources
- Building specialist capability and contributing to the specialist evidence base across the workforce
- Creating an environment that supports career longevity
- Creating work and service delivery spaces that promotes safety and wellbeing
- Elevating the contribution of the Lived Experience Governance Group and the Reconciliation Working Party to DVAC decision making
BUILDING community
Deepen local roots, build enduring relationships, and reach emerging groups.
Focus areas
Community engagement
Visibility and recognition
- Recognition by communities across our service delivery footprint as a trusted, high-quality service delivery partner
- Elevating the voice of victim-survivors and children on their journey to safety
- Creating new relationships in our communities to better support people experiencing disadvantage
- Increasing the visibility of our organisation and our impact through communications and community participation
- Addressing systematic drivers of womens’ homelessness and child removal, by providing housing solutions for vulnerable community cohorts that increase safety and healing outcomes
- Working with young men and boys to prevent DFSV
How we’re MEASURING success
Strengthening Foundations
- 100% of leaders who have been in their role for more than twelve months have completed leadership training
- Measured improvement through qualitative assessment of leadership capability
- Measured improvement in employee engagement through qualitative assessment
- Reduction in lost time to administrative processing
- Staff report experiencing safety, support and job satisfaction
Delivering Quality Services
- Incoming and outgoing referral data demonstrates service access for clients
- Client satisfaction, complaints and feedback process demonstrate accessible and transparent service’s and congruence with continuous quality improvement
- DVAC Client Data Management system reporting demonstrates achievements towards service delivery outcomes for clients
- Contractual reporting meets service delivery requirements
- HSQF accreditation maintained
Nurturing Sustainability
- Unqualified audit
- Measurable improvement in employee engagement through qualitative assessment
- Completing phase one and phase two of Ipswich refurb
- Measurable increase in WHS indicators
- Incorporating contributions from the Lived Experience Governance Group and Reconciliation Working Party into decision-making
Building Community
- Measured improvement over time in community and stakeholder sentiment
- Successful completion of BTC pilot working with young men and boys
- Delivery of cottages to reduce homelessness for victims of DFV
- Increased reach via social media channels
- Reduced barriers for people in regional areas, who are LGBTQAI+, First Nations and who are newly arrived to Australia