Taking action to stop family violence
The Victorian Government is taking action to stop family violence. Our approach is both strategic and thorough with police, courts, service providers and the community working together. We’ve made considerable progress but more needs to be done. Our commitment to reduce family violence involves:
- prevention of family violence
- improved safety and well-being of women and children who experience family violence
- increased accountability of men who use violence
The following Government policy and programs are overseen by five Victorian Government Ministers. Find out more.
Police response
The response by Victoria Police to family violence has undergone significant reform. Find out about the
The Justice System
Victoria’s Justice System has a comprehensive range of policies and projects to reduce family violence. They include:
- The
Family Violence Court Division of the Magistrates' Court at Ballarat and Heidelberg established in June 2005.
- The Family Violence Court Intervention Project
- Specialist Family Violence Services commenced in early 2006 in the Magistrates' Courts of Victoria at Melbourne, Sunshine (with a circuit to Werribee) and Frankston
- Training of Magistrates' Court staff to more effectively recognise and respond to family violence
- New legislation to be enacted in 2008 to better protect women and children
- Increased investment to Community Legal Centres of $3.8 million over four years provided in 2007 to fund a network of eight dedicated family violence community lawyer positions to support victims and an additional position at the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service.
Victorian Family Violence Database
Legislative reform
Law reform is a key component of the Government’s approach to reducing family violence. A new Family Violence Act will be introduced into State Parliament later in 2008. The legislation is built on the recommendations of the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s Review of Family Violence Laws Report, released in March 2006. Find out more at the
Key elements of the new Family Violence ACT are:
- A new system of police-issued family violence safety notices, which will provide police with another tool to respond quickly and effectively to family violence
- Making it easier for victims of family violence to remain in the family home with their children if they wish, while the perpetrator of violence may be required to leave
- Ensuring that self-represented respondents cannot personally cross-examine their alleged victims in court
- A comprehensive definition of family violence that includes economic and emotional abuse, as well as other types of threatening and controlling behaviour
- Broadening the definition of ‘family member’ to cover a wider range of family and family-like relationships
- Ensuring that all the relevant evidence is before the Court when it is making decisions
For more details on the proposed new Family Violence Act visit the
Integrated Family Violence services
As part of the whole of government family violence reforms, the
The Government has a range of housing options for those impacted by family violence. Find out more at the
Children and young people
We need to educate children and young people to understand that family violence is more than just physical assault and that all types of violence are wrong. There are specialist services to cater for children and young people if they are experiencing any type of family violence. Find more
Supporting indigenous communities
A comprehensive strategy has been developed to combat family violence in Indigenous communities. Read the 10 Year Plan: Towards a Safer Future for Indigenous Families and Communities.
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, VicHealth, is the State’s peak body for promoting health issues. It has identified as a priority decreasing the number of Victorian women experiencing physical or sexual violence. VicHealth also initiates and supports a number of major research projects such as
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