Specialist domestic violence assistance
The Australian Government provides funding for legal assistance providers to deliver a number of specialist family and domestic violence legal services. These services help women affected by family and domestic violence who may otherwise be unable to access the support they need.
Family Advocacy and Support Services
Each Australian state and territory legal aid commission has a Family Advocacy and Support Service. The service combines free legal advice and support at court for people affected by domestic and family violence.
Find more information, including contact details, at the Family Violence Law Help website.
Domestic violence units and health justice partnerships
Domestic violence units provide tailored legal assistance and other holistic support. They can assist clients to access services such as:
- financial counselling
- tenancy assistance
- trauma counselling
- emergency accommodation
- employment services.
The following providers operate specialist domestic violence units:
New South Wales
- Legal Aid New South Wales, south-west Sydney and the Central Coast, NSW
- Western New South Wales Community Legal Centre, Dubbo, NSW
Victoria
- Eastern Community Legal Centre, north-east Melbourne, Vic
- Mallee Family Care Community Legal Centre, Mildura, Vic
- Women's Legal Service Victoria, online model, Vic
Queensland
- Women's Legal Service Queensland, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Caboolture, Qld
- North Queensland Women's Legal Service, Townsville, Qld
- Legal Aid Queensland, Rockhampton, Qld
Western Australia
- Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre, north-east Perth, WA
- Kimberley Community Legal Service, east Kimberley, WA
- Southern Communities Advocacy Legal and Education Service, Rockingham, WA
South Australia
- Legal Services Commission of South Australia, north metropolitan Adelaide, SA
- Women's Legal Service South Australia, south metropolitan Adelaide, SA
Tasmania
- Women's Legal Service Tasmania, Burnie and Launceston, Tas
Australian Capital Territory
- Women's Legal Centre ACT, Canberra, ACT
Northern Territory
- Central Australian Women's Legal Service, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, NT
Some of these providers also operate health justice partnerships. Through these health justice partnerships, lawyers and health professionals work together to assist women experiencing domestic violence. Lawyers work at hospitals and health centres to ensure women can access legal assistance in a safe location. They also train health professionals to recognise when women have legal problems related to domestic violence.
Learn more about health justice partnerships at the Health Justice Australia website.
Pilot program evaluation
Social Compass completed an evaluation of the pilot program of specialist domestic violence units and health justice partnerships in February 2019.