Family Violence

Family violence can occur between partners, ex-partners, parents and children, siblings or between other parties who are living together or who are in a family relationship. Family violence can consist of physical violence or sexual violence. It can also consist of subtler forms of abuse, such as economic, emotional or psychological abuse or coercive control.

When family violence occurs, criminal charges will often be laid. It is also common for the police or the victim to apply for an intervention order, which is a court order that restricts the defendant from doing certain things, such as contacting their victim or harrassing or abusing their victim. The court will make an order if it is satisifed that it is necessary to do so to ensure the safety of the person or their children. Intervention orders are referred to by different names in different states and territories. You may hear them called Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs), Family Violence Orders (FVOs) or Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIOs). An order made in any state or territory is enforceable in every other state and territory.

Family violence may also result in a claim for victims of crime assistance and in parenting proceedings.  

This section deals with family violence in Australia..