Five prominent Queenslanders have been appointed to a new panel that will review domestic violence related-deaths.

Community Services Minister Karen Struthers said the Death Review Panel offered Queensland a new way to try and prevent similar deaths in the future.

"Over the past five years there have been up to 60 domestic violence-related deaths in Queensland," Ms Struthers said.

"This panel is the first dedicated mechanism for investigating the circumstances surrounding these deaths - including what more could have been done to prevent a death - and identifying any gaps in services for victims."

The panel will be chaired by Marg O'Donnell, Chair of the Board of Legal Aid Queensland and former Director General of both the Office of Women's Policy and the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Development.

The 4 other members are Ministerial Advisory Council on Domestic and Family Violence representatives and high-profile advocates Heather Nancarrow, Donna Justo and Ken Georgetown, and retired senior policeman Peter Swindells.

Ms O'Donnell said the panel included stakeholders with extensive experience dealing with domestic violence.

"The members of this panel have the experience to deal with the confronting, complex cases they will be reviewing," she said.

"We'll report back to the Minister with our findings, which may also be used to help the Coroner conduct future inquiries.

"If this leads to a reduction in deaths and their tragic consequences for families, then we will have done good work," Ms O'Donnell said.

Ms Struthers said the Death Review Panel is the first step in a five-year plan, For Our Sons and Daughters - A Queensland Government strategy to reduce domestic and family violence, to help stem the tide of domestic and family violence in Queensland.

The new strategy follows the release of a consultation paper late last year which outlined five key areas of action, from prevention and making perpetrators accountable for their actions, to enhancing support services.

In addition, the Federal Government has released Time for Action, the report of the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.

"Establishing a domestic violence Death Review Panel aligns Queensland with the national direction, putting us in good stead for discussions and collaboration on the development of a National Plan to address domestic and family violence in the future," Ms Struthers said.

"The proposed National Plan will present opportunities for closer cooperation with the Commonwealth Government in areas of funding, primary prevention programs, research, programs for perpetrators and changes to family law processes."