The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022 was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments and released in February 2011. It sets out a framework to coordinate action across Commonwealth Government and the state and territory governments to reduce violence against women and their children.

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), is one of the key commitments of the National Plan. The first major task of ANROWS was to produce the National Research Agenda on behalf of the Australian Government, state and territory governments. The purpose of the National Research Agenda is to develop a cohesive and comprehensive national evidence base that is relevant to policy and practice and actively contributes to the National Plan outcomes. It will do this by providing strategic direction and identifying research opportunities and priorities that are nationally applicable.

The National Research Agenda was launched on 16 May 2014 and informs the development of the ANROWS Research Program as well as provides a framework for, and guidance on, priority areas of research and research themes for academics, researchers, organisations and governments across Australia.