Communicating Aboriginal-led responses to family violence

Content warning: The following information discusses family violence and lived experiences of abuse, which may be distressing. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000 (Australia) or local emergency services. Support is available via 1800RESPECT (1800 806 292).

Addressing family violence in Aboriginal communities requires solutions that are led by community, grounded in culture, and shaped by lived experience.

Dhelk Dja is a long-standing partnership between Aboriginal communities and the Victorian Government, focused on creating culturally safe responses to family violence, including the development of Aboriginal Access Points.

To support this work, there was a need to clearly communicate both the purpose of these initiatives and the role of community leadership in shaping them.

The challenge was explaining services in a way that respected and reflected Aboriginal perspectives. Standard government communication approaches risked, flattening cultural context, underrepresenting community leadership, and failing to resonate with the audiences the work was intended to support

The content needed to:

• centre Aboriginal voices and self-determination
• clearly explain new service models such as Aboriginal Access Points
• be appropriate for use in community settings, events, and broader awareness initiatives

Portable worked with Dhelk Dja and Family Safety Victoria on multiple videos from animation to narrative storytelling, designed to communicate both information and cultural context.

The approach prioritised collaboration and respect.

• Community-informed storytelling ensured the content reflected Aboriginal perspectives and priorities
• Illustration-led animation (in collaboration with First Nations artist, Alice Eddy) provided a culturally appropriate visual language
• Clear narrative structure explained the role of Aboriginal Access Points and the broader partnership without relying on technical or policy-heavy language

The videos supported clearer understanding of Aboriginal-led approaches to family violence across both community and government audiences.

By aligning storytelling with culture and context, the work strengthens how these initiatives are understood, shared, and supported across Victoria.