Amanda Rishworth starts ‘open’ search for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner

The Social Services Minister has launched the search for the next Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner who will oversee policies aimed at preventing gender-based violence

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has launched the search for the next Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner who will oversee policies aimed at preventing gender-based violence, ahead of the first face-to-face meeting of women’s safety ministers since the election.

It follows Labor’s decision to drop inaugural commissioner Catherine Fitzpatrick, who was assigned to the role by the previous government two days before the election was called.

Ms Fitzpatrick, a former banking executive, was due to start the five-year role from July 1, but Ms Rishworth said the role needed to be properly advertised and the process of hiring conducted with transparency. She said Ms Fitzpatrick was welcome to apply.

“The decision I made to revoke the commissioner designate is not about Ms Fitzpatrick but about the importance of undertaking an open, competitive process – a process the government believes is critical to the success of the inaugural commissioner,” Ms Rishworth said.

A draft job advertisement seen by The Australian stresses that the commissioner needs to be “a recognised leader” with a “demonstrated understanding of the family, domestic and sexual violence landscape in Australia” and have outstanding stakeholder engagement skills.

The commissioner must also have had “relevant government or corporate governance experience” and an ability to engage with people with lived experience.

It is understood likely candidates could include Kate Fitzgibbon, who was lead author on the consultation reports recently conducted and released into the National Plan and is now director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre.

Others potential candidates include Disability Royal Commissioner Andrea Mason, former Northern Territory minister Dale Wakefield, former Law Council president Jacoba Brasch and Mental Health Commission co-chair Ngaire Brown.

Friday’s meeting between federal, state and territory ministers will look to finalise a 10-year-plan to address domestic violence against women and children, due to be launched later this year.