Family Violence Prevention Legal Services

The Australian Government, through the Attorney-General’s Department, provides funding for the Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS) program. The FVPLS program provides culturally sensitive assistance to Indigenous victim-survivors of family violence and sexual assault through the provision of legal assistance, court support, casework and counselling.

The Family Violence Prevention Legal Services program is complemented by other Indigenous law and justice programs.

On this page you can find more information and downloads on the FVPLS program:

Should you wish to contact FVPLS, please call (02) 6141 4817.

Funding Guidelines

The FVPLS complements State and Territory initiatives. Funding from the Australian Government should be regarded as complementary and the Department encourages applicants to seek funding from other sources. All applicants will be required to provide information to the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department relating to funding received, and/or applied for, from other sources.

Under the Submission for Funding Indigenous Programs 2010-11, you will be required to meet the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department's terms and conditions, as well as any program-specific terms, conditions and schedules that apply, to all projects funded under this program. The program-specific terms, conditions and schedule requires compliance with the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department Operational Framework for FVPLS.

FVPLS units are expected to ensure that the services offered are accessible and culturally appropriate to Indigenous adults and children, in the specified service region, regardless of gender, sexual preference, family relationship, location, disability, literacy or language.

FVPLS delivers the following services:

legal advice and casework assistance
court support
counselling to victims of sexual assault
assistance and support to victims of sexual assault
child protection and support
information, support and referral services
community engagement
referrals
law reform and advocacy
early intervention and prevention, and
community legal education.

Applicants may apply for up to three year funding under this program. The Department will determine which service providers will be offered three year funding agreements (taking into account a range of factors including past performance and risk). Service providers will be invited to make a submission to provide service delivery in specified high need service areas in predominantly rural and remote locations.

Program Guidelines, Operational Framework and Policy Manuals

These Program Guidelines and Policy Manuals are important documents that set out what is required to meet the terms and conditions for the FVPLS program. Prior to submitting your application or making an enquiry, you should download and carefully review each of these documents: