The Claim
“Scrapped the domestic violence education program in schools.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
TRUE - The Coalition government did axe funding for the REALskills domestic violence education program in Tweed Heads, NSW schools.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald report, the program "is one of hundreds facing the chop due to the $271 million cut to social service grants, announced by the Federal Government last year" [1]. The award-winning REALskills program, which had operated for 12 years and taught more than 7,000 high school students about healthy relationships and domestic abuse, was scheduled to close in June 2015 along with its accompanying support service [1].
Five affected high school principals co-signed a letter to Social Services Minister Scott Morrison, stating they were "shocked and dismayed" by the decision and that "the loss of the program will have a significant impact on the capacity of the schools in this area to meet the welfare needs of students" [1].
The program was run by the Family Centre at Tweed Heads and focused on "arming young people with relationship-related skills as well as building up their resilience, ability and knowledge to connect with support services when they need them" [1].
Missing Context
The claim omits several critical pieces of context:
1. Part of broader funding cuts, not targeted elimination
The program was not specifically targeted for elimination. Rather, it was one of "hundreds" of programs affected by the $271 million reduction to social service grants announced in 2014 [1]. Minister Scott Morrison stated that "funding for recent grants had sparked 'unprecedented interest' and not all applications were successful" [1].
2. Timing of broader political focus on domestic violence
The cuts came just one week after Prime Minister Tony Abbott had "vowed to make domestic violence a top priority at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) conference" [1]. This timing created significant political tension, but also suggests the government was not systematically eliminating domestic violence programs as a matter of policy.
3. 2015 Budget included some domestic violence funding
While criticized as inadequate, the 2015 federal budget did include $16.7 million for a National Awareness Campaign to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children (as part of a $30 million total campaign with state contributions) [2]. The budget also extended $230 million for homelessness services prioritizing domestic violence victims, and $25.4 million for legal services [3].
4. The program was a local/regional initiative, not national
The REALskills program was specific to the Tweed Heads region in northern NSW, not a national program. The claim's framing of "the domestic violence education program in schools" (singular) could misleadingly imply a nationwide program was eliminated [1].
5. Existing underfunding crisis predated cuts
By 2015, domestic violence services were already severely underfunded. In 2014, the national crisis hotline 1800RESPECT had left 18,631 calls unanswered (25% of contacts) [3]. The 2013-14 period saw 423 people turned away from homelessness agencies nightly, many fleeing violence [2].
Source Credibility Assessment
The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) is a mainstream Australian newspaper with a centrist to center-left editorial stance. While generally reputable, SMH endorsed Labor in the 2013 and 2016 federal elections, suggesting a moderate center-left bias. The article in question is factual reporting rather than opinion, and includes direct quotes from officials, affected principals, and domestic violence advocates.
The article's author Eamonn Duff is identified as the Sun-Herald senior investigative writer. The article includes the government's response from Minister Scott Morrison, providing some balance. However, the framing emphasizes the negative impacts and political contradiction rather than budgetary rationale.
Overall assessment: Credible mainstream source with moderate center-left leaning. Facts presented appear accurate, though framing is critical of the government.
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Search conducted: "Australian Labor government domestic violence education schools funding history"
The National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children 2010-2022 was established under the Labor government (Rudd/Gillard era). This national framework was developed "by the Commonwealth Government in conjunction with state and territory governments" and was based on recommendations from the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children [4].
Under Labor, the framework existed but specific education programs like REALskills were funded through grant programs that were subject to competitive applications and periodic renewal. The REALskills program itself had operated for 12 years (since approximately 2003), meaning it received funding under both Labor and Coalition governments before its 2015 termination.
Key comparison points:
No national curriculum under Labor either: Neither Labor nor the Coalition implemented a comprehensive national domestic violence education curriculum during this period. The 2021 Monash University study commissioned by the Department of Education found significant gaps in "respectful relationships education" nationally, indicating this was a long-term systemic issue across multiple governments [5].
Victoria's Respectful Relationships curriculum was state-led: Victoria's Respectful Relationships curriculum (launched 2015-2016) was a state initiative, not a federal Labor program. Federal responsibility for education is limited compared to state control.
Both parties underfunded services: The Conversation's 2015 analysis noted that domestic violence services were underfunded and unable to meet demand, with crisis hotlines leaving thousands of calls unanswered [3]. This systemic underfunding predated the 2013 election and continued through both government periods.
Coalition reversed some planned cuts: The 2015 budget reversed planned cuts to homelessness services ($230 million extension) and legal services ($25.4 million extension) that had been announced earlier [3].
Balanced Perspective
What the critics said:
- Australian of the Year Rosie Batty stated: "If we are going to achieve cultural change, it has to happen through our schools" [1]
- Fair Agenda executive director Renee Carr said the government "failed" the domestic violence test with inadequate budget commitments [2]
- Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia's Karen Willis noted: "Women are making incredibly brave steps to come forward and we're not there" [2]
The government's position:
- Minister Scott Morrison stated: "My first priority is ensuring there are no gaps in critical frontline services while we work through the transition of services to the new funding arrangements" [1]
- The government noted that grant funding attracted "unprecedented interest" and not all applications could be successful [1]
- The Coalition highlighted its $230 million homelessness commitment prioritizing domestic violence victims [3]
Comparative context:
This specific program loss was part of broader austerity measures following the 2014 budget, not a targeted attack on domestic violence education. The Coalition maintained and even extended some domestic violence-related funding while eliminating others.
However, the pattern of cutting preventive education programs while funding crisis services reflects a reactive rather than preventive approach. This prioritization pattern has been common across Australian governments of both parties, with preventive education historically underfunded compared to crisis response.
The claim presents this as a singular "domestic violence education program" when it was actually a regional program serving northern NSW. The framing suggests a systematic elimination of school-based DV education, when the reality was a specific regional grant not renewed amid hundreds of similar cuts.
PARTIALLY TRUE
6.0
out of 10
The factual core is accurate: the Coalition government did axe funding for a specific domestic violence education program (REALskills) in Tweed Heads schools as part of broader social service grant cuts. However, the claim uses misleading framing by presenting this as "the domestic violence education program in schools" (implying a comprehensive national program) rather than accurately describing it as one regional program among hundreds affected by budget cuts.
The claim omits that this was part of broader $271 million social service grant reductions, not a targeted elimination of domestic violence education. It also omits that the Coalition maintained or extended some domestic violence-related funding (homelessness services, legal services, awareness campaigns) even while cutting this specific program.
Additionally, the claim lacks comparative context: neither Labor nor Coalition had implemented comprehensive national domestic violence education curricula during this period, and systemic underfunding of domestic violence services was a long-term issue predating the 2013 election.
Final Score
6.0
OUT OF 10
PARTIALLY TRUE
The factual core is accurate: the Coalition government did axe funding for a specific domestic violence education program (REALskills) in Tweed Heads schools as part of broader social service grant cuts. However, the claim uses misleading framing by presenting this as "the domestic violence education program in schools" (implying a comprehensive national program) rather than accurately describing it as one regional program among hundreds affected by budget cuts.
The claim omits that this was part of broader $271 million social service grant reductions, not a targeted elimination of domestic violence education. It also omits that the Coalition maintained or extended some domestic violence-related funding (homelessness services, legal services, awareness campaigns) even while cutting this specific program.
Additionally, the claim lacks comparative context: neither Labor nor Coalition had implemented comprehensive national domestic violence education curricula during this period, and systemic underfunding of domestic violence services was a long-term issue predating the 2013 election.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (5)
-
1
Federal government axes funding for domestic violence education in northern NSW schools
Thousands of school children will lose access to a vital domestic violence education program and support service after the Federal Government axed its funding.
The Sydney Morning Herald -
2
Budget 2015: 'Government failed domestic violence test'
A partially-funded awareness campaign was the only domestic violence measure announced in the federal budget, leaving frontline workers aghast at acute funding shortfalls.
The Sydney Morning Herald -
3
Budget brief: where is the new help for domestic violence?
A national domestic violence crisis hotline is still under-funded and unable to keep up with demand, after the 2015 federal budget delivered only a few short-term measures on domestic violence.
The Conversation -
4
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
Dss Gov
-
5
Respectful Relationships Education in Australia: Final Report
Education Gov
Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.