Specialist domestic violence assistance
The Australian Government provides ongoing funding to specialist domestic violence units and health justice partnerships. These services help women affected by family and domestic violence who may otherwise be unable to access the support they need.
Find a specialist domestic violence unit
Specialist 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 organisations operate specialist domestic violence units:
- Legal Aid New South Wales, south-west Sydney and the Central Coast, NSW
- Western New South Wales Community Legal Centre, Dubbo, NSW
- Eastern Community Legal Centre, north-east Melbourne, Vic
- Murray Mallee Community Legal Centre, Mildura, Vic
- Women's Legal Service Queensland, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Caboolture, Qld
- North Queensland Women's Legal Service, Townsville, Qld
- Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre, north-east Perth, WA
- Kimberley Community Legal Service, east Kimberley, WA
- Legal Services Commission of South Australia, north metropolitan Adelaide, SA
- Women's Legal Service Tasmania, Burnie and Launceston, Tas
- Central Australian Women's Legal Service, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, NT
- Women's Legal Centre ACT, Canberra, ACT
- Women's Legal Service Victoria, online model, Vic
- Southern Communities Advocacy Legal and Education Service, Rockingham, WA
- Women's Legal Service South Australia, south metropolitan Adelaide, SA
- Legal Aid Queensland, Rockhampton, Qld
Find a health justice partnerships
Through 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.
The following organisations deliver health justice partnerships:
- Inner Melbourne Community Legal, Melbourne, Vic
- Women's Legal Service Queensland, Brisbane and surrounds, Qld
- Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre, north-east Perth, WA
- Legal Services Commission of South Australia, north metropolitan Adelaide, SA
- Central Australian Women's Legal Service, Alice Springs, NT
Download the pilot program evaluation
Social Compass completed an evaluation of the pilot program of specialist domestic violence units and health justice partnerships in February 2019.
To access this document in a different accessible format contact dvu@ag.gov.au.