The Victorian government says it will adopt all of the more than 200 recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
The recommendations call for major changes in how the state and services respond to reported incidents.
In court, Royal Commissioner Marcia Neave shared a story of survival told to the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
"Susan Jones, and that's not her real name, and her four children escaped from her husband after years of horrific physical, sexual, financial, psychological abuse. It began shortly after they married and it escalated when she became pregnant, when he kicked her in the stomach."
It's just one of the cases heard by the Commission, which looked into issues including the prevention of family violence, early intervention, and legal, law enforcement and other forms of support.
More than 1,000 submissions were made during its 13-month inquiry.
Justice Neave says the findings, tabled in the Victorian parliament, point to systemic shortcomings.
"The key message in our report is that although there are good things being done by many services, good features of existing systems, the overall response to family violence needs to be transformed."
The report concludes that all parts of the Victorian system - including services, police and the courts - are overwhelmed, and are struggling to meet the needs of the women, young people and children affected.
Justice Neave says some sections of society are especially vulnerable.
"We also know that there are some groups in the community who face particular barriers seeking help. People from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds -- where there's a high incidence of family violence. People from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Older people. People, particularly women with disabilities. People in gay and lesbian and transgender relationships. Transgender and inter-sex people -- all these people find barriers in seeking help."
The Royal Commission made 227 recommendations, which Premier Daniel Andrews has committed to implementing in full.
"This is Australia's first royal commission into family violence; it was always designed as firstly as an acknowledgement that the system is broken and is failing too many people. And the royal commission was our highest and most formal way of getting the answers that we need."
Among the recommendations is the establishment of special courts, as well as a network of so-called safety hubs providing access to the necessary help.
Justice Neave says Victoria also needs new laws to enable better communication between support and service providers.
"At the moment, there are really serious barriers to information sharing. Between all of the people who may, and services that may, come into contact with victims and perpetrators. These barriers make victims unsafe and help perpetrators fly under the radar."
She says the Commission's report also addresses police handling of family violence cases.
"As far as the police are concerned, we recommend that frontline police be equipped with mobile technology to relieve them of unnecessary paperwork. We also recommend a trial of body-worn cameras -- that is, cameras worn by police to make it easier to gather evidence."
Rachael Bausor is the chief executive of the support group, WIRE Women's Information Victoria.
She has welcomed the Commission's recommendations.
"There was one recommendation, in particular, that we were very happy was included, which is, making sure that voices of victim and survivors are heard in all of this process, and that the victims have a voice in service delivery and that they inform the policy around this issue. And we were very happy to see that recommendation included."
