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We know that the media plays a powerful role in shaping public understanding of gender-based violence. Responsible reporting can support prevention, accountability and victim-survivor recovery, while harmful reporting can reinforce stereotypes, minimise the seriousness of abuse, and cause further harm to victim-survivors and the wider community.
As a result of renewed public attention on the issue, the Commissioner partnered with the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner and Our Watch to host a National Roundtable on Media Reporting of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.
The roundtable took place on 5 August 2026 and brought together journalists, media industry bodies and regulators, lived experience advocates and sector experts to explore opportunities to improve the standard of media reporting on gender-based violence.
You can read about the themes explored on the day in the National Media Roundtable Report (PDF, 679.3 KB).
Disclaimer
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You can view highlights from the National Roundtable on Media Reporting of DFSV 2026 here.
You can view highlights from the National Roundtable on Media Reporting of DFSV 2026 here.
Moo Baulch: The media in its many, many forms, has the ability to shape the way that people see, speak, imagine violence against women.
Nina Funnell: When reporting or headlines are irresponsible, inappropriate, unethical, that can do real damage not only to the individual survivors or their families but also to the wider community in terms of their attitudes and beliefs.
Dr Hannah McGlade: Today was about the media's coverage of violence against women.
Moo Baulch: What it is that we need to do as a community, as a society to improve reporting.
Dr Hannah McGlade: The need for Aboriginal journalists, the need for us to question the cultural code that unfortunately does render Aboriginal victims invisible too often.
Boyd Unwin: Holding perpetrators to account instead of victimising the victims more.
Sherele Moody: If we have media blaming her for her own death, then that gives the impression that women are responsible for male violence.
Nina Funnell: When reporting is ethical, sensitive, responsible, it can produce social good.
Moo Baulch: It has the power to have conversations that are talking not just about the violence that occurs, but the drivers of violence as well.
Boyd Unwin: We can reduce the numbers, it's just a matter of us all working as a community to get this done.
Moo Baulch: Thank you to everybody who brought their lived-experience and their professional expertise to the conversations. I walk away from today feeling really hopeful.
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