Steve Whan
Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education

Jodie Harrison
Minister for Women
Minister for Seniors
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

MEDIA RELEASE

Supporting frontline domestic and family violence workers the fully subsidised TAFE

Saturday 24 October 2026

The Minns Labor Government is helping boost the skills and qualifications of the specialist domestic and family violence workforce with fully subsidised training through TAFE NSW.

Delivered in partnership with TAFE NSW, the DFV Sector Growth and Capability Uplift Program will support 50 existing domestic and family violence specialist workers to complete a Diploma of Community Services (Case Management and Responding to Family Violence).

Specialist domestic and family violence workers do important but incredibly challenging work, so it's vital they feel supported through better training and opportunities. 

This program is part of the wider work the Minns Labor Government is doing to strengthen the workforce and stabilise the sector, so the victim-survivors continue to receive the best care and support in their time of need.

Specialist workers from across New South Wales, including Orange, Wagga Wagga, Griffith, the Central Coast, Newcastle and Ballina, are starting the program in Term 4 and will receive the best care and support throughout their studies, helping them build their skills.

By creating a pipeline of well-trained specialist domestic and family violence workers, victim-survivors can continue to receive consistent, safe, trauma-informed support that improves their safety and long-term recovery.

This work follows the launch of the first NSE Domestic and Family Violence Sector Workforce Development Strategy 2025-2035 last year. Its focus is on bringing together government, employers and the domestic and family violence sector to build workforce skills, address workforce challenges and meet growing demand for service across the state.

It includes developing and rolling out specialised coercive control training for youth, multicultural and settlement, disability and childcare workers, helping them recognise and respond to that form of abuse.

To provide greater certainty for workers and service providers, the NSW Government also introduced five-year funding agreements for domestic and family violence programs from 1 July this year, helping ensure victim-survivors can continue to access the support they need.

The Minns Labor Government continues to build a safer New South Wales for women and children, investing $184.1 million in our most recent Budget top boost funding for six core domestic and family violence programs by 50 per cent. This is the largest increase to the sector in decades, and this funding will expand supports while also growing the frontline workforce and strengthening long-term sustainability of the sector.

To learn more about the Workforce Strategy, go to: Strengthening the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Service System: Workforce Development Strategy (2025-2035) | Communities and Justice

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

"Specialist domestic and family violence workers are the crucial supports victim-survivors rely on to stay safge when they escape violence.

"The Minns Labor Government is backing this workforce by helping them gain a recognised qualification and specialist skills to do the work.

"By partnering with TAFE NSW, we are creating clearer pathways into the sector and building a workforce that can meet demand now and into the future." 

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

"Many domestic workers have built a wealth of knowledge and experience through years of supporting their communities, and they deserve training pathways that recognise and build on that expertise.

"Through practical, industry-focused training, this partnership between TAFE NSW and the Department of Communities and Justice is helping workers gain a nationally recognised qualification while continuing to support their communities.

"The Minns Labor Government is investing a record $3.46 billion in skills, TAFE and training because we believe in delivering the skills that work. Participants will build on their expertise in areas including domestic and family violence prevention, respectful relationships, bystander skills and trauma-informed practice essentials.

"By making training more accessible and available closer to home, we're helping strengthen the sector's workforce and ensure victim-survivors can access the support they need, when they need it."

Domestic Violence NSW Deputy CEO Pia Birac said:

"Domestic Violence NSW welcomes this practical response to workforce challenges identified through the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Sector Workforce Development Strategy 2025-2035.

"Fully subsidised training helps remove barriers to professional development, while the focus on regional and rural workers supports more equitable access to opportunities. 

"We welcome an approach that recognises workers' existing expertise while ensuring training reflects the realities of frontline practice. This is an important step in turning what the sector has told the government is needs, into practical action."