The Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) first became a White Ribbon accredited workplace in June 2016. Today, we continue the work to stop violence against women and children.

As a department we:

  • champion ideas that support gender equality
  • assign resources to identify risks and improve safety in the workplace
  • develop strategies to promote White Ribbon and encourage staff to join in
  • train staff in preventing violence and how to respond if someone confides in them
  • review workplace policies and procedures to support victims of domestic violence.

We continue to develop and review our policies and work plans to make sure we promote a culture of zero tolerance towards violence against women and children. This also means our staff can feel safe. It means that AGD is respectful place to work where women can excel as professionals.

Violence against women defined

White Ribbon defines men’s violence against women the same way as the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women:

‘any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life’.

The impact of this violence on women can be physical, sexual and psychological.

1 in 2 women have experienced sexual harassment during her lifetime.

Over 60% of women experiencing violence from a current partner are working.

Violence against women can also result in death: women die from the negative health effects of violence and some are killed.

It affects women’s well-being and prevents them from fully participating in society. It also impacts on families, the community and the nation.

Support and assistance

South Australian Police 
Phone Triple Zero (000) ask for the police (life-threatening or urgent situations)

Police attendance 
Phone 131 444 (non-urgent assistance)

Domestic Violence Crisis Line
Phone 1800 800 098 (24 hours crisis counselling, support and referral to safe accommodation)

1800RESPECT 
Phone 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling)

Further Information about domestic and family violence and sexual assault services are available on sa.gov.au.

AGD initiatives

AGD is actively working to stop violence against women. We use our programs as an opportunity to stand up to violence against women.

We also raise awareness about White Ribbon with our staff and violence against women in the community and the workplace.

Through this work, women and men who work at AGD can better understand the complex issues around violence against women. As an agency, we are actively committed to its end.

Statement of Commitment to White Ribbon (PDF, 383.9 KB)

AGD develops laws and policy that support safety, diversity, fairness and justice in the community. Many of our 'business-as-usual' initiatives are designed to make our workplace and community a safer place for women.

We assess and pay claims by women who have been subjected to domestic violence and have lodged a claim for compensation. Interim payments to meet urgent needs related to a claim are offered in some circumstances. Victims of sexual violence can be assisted by an interim payment to access counselling.

We also provide advice to the Attorney-General regarding requests for 'ex gratia payments' - voluntary payments - by women who have been subjected to domestic abuse, but no offence has been proven in court.

The CSO Victims of Crime team also liaises with victims support groups, providing information about compensation and the process of submitting a claim.

The CSO also acts for the Attorney-General in relation to high risk offenders, a significant portion of whom are classified as high risk offenders because of prior offending against an intimate partner. In these instances, conditions are tailored to reduce the risk of future domestic violence offending.

The number of times someone can change their name during their lifetime is usually limited to 3. However, we consider applications outside the usual policy for anyone trying to escape domestic violence.

Our communications team design communications such as website content, posters and fact sheets to engage staff and to actively raise awareness of White Ribbon.

At Victims of Crime SA, we:

  • advocate for and help all victims of violence including, family and domestic violence.
  • provide public education about supporting victims of violence.
  • work with government and non-government agencies to address family and domestic violence issues and to support communication strategies.

At the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA), our staff are trained to respond to domestic violence so we can:

  • identify clients at high risk of violence and put strategies in place to keep them safe
  • make decisions that promote the safety and welfare of vulnerable clients under guardianship
  • liaise with women's and DFV safety services on behalf of our clients
  • maintain a close working relationship with the public protection branch of SAPOL
  • foster inter-agency collaboration via the Public Advocate Clients and DFV Working Group
  • influence public policy on DFV prevention, especially as it affects people with impaired decision-making ability.

The Public Advocate is appointed the guardian for vulnerable adults with impaired decision-making ability where no other appropriate person or appointment is available. This allows us to make decisions that safeguard our clients from abuse.

AGD has a range of support arrangements, initiatives and resources for AGD staff who may need assistance in domestic violence situations.

For example, special leave with pay is available for women working at AGD who are experiencing domestic/relationship violence. AGD also has policies around sexual harassment.

It is illegal to discriminate against someone because they have experienced domestic or family violence.

We can support people who wish to make a complaint about domestic abuse discrimination that occurs at work, when applying for a job, looking for a place to live or in the provision of goods and services. Learn more on the Equal Opportunity SA website.

We see examples of this type of violence through sexual assaults and incidents of domestic violence in our forensic casework. Sexual assault cases involving unknown offenders are of high priority.

We support victims by providing timely forensic results to help police investigations and improve the chance of justice being served.