25/05/2026
Minister for Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Jessica Stojkovski MLA discussed changes to legislation and the importance of community education as guest speaker at the SI Joondalup April business meeting.
Jessica talked about child protection and family and domestic violence, areas she is passionate about.
She said her experiences growing up in a happy family with foster siblings helped shape her role as Minister for Child Protection.
"Removing children from their family is the very last option and before that happens, we ensure all possible support has been given to the family," she said.
"Family and Domestic Violence is a very difficult and complex portfolio - WA has a high rate of family domestic violence, according to a recent Australian Bureau of Statistics reports.
"Changes to legislation, police recruit training and education about coercive control have led to an increase in reporting and convictions in FDV. There is also an increased recognition of the need to understand and learn from victim survivors."
Jessica said in the majority of FDV cases, men are the perpetrators and a very high percentage of these men have experienced trauma themselves.
"When dealing with these perpetrators, it is a challenge to help them deal with their trauma, while at the same time holding them to account for their actions," she said.
Jessica added that social media contributed to the problem of domestic violence by distorting what healthy relationships look like.
"The influence of the 'manosphere' and the algorithms add to the complexity of the problem," she said.
"However, it is not only men who are the perpetrators, as there is an increasing cohort of men who are becoming victims mainly of coercive control.
"Currently, there is a lack of good messaging for young men and we can't underestimate the importance of language used by role models, such as sporting coaches, either."
Jessica highlighted that there were many good men in the community and it was important to empower them to have conversations with their mates and hold each other to account for how they speak to, speak about and treat women.
By Adriana Di Benedetto
