Practice principles, standards and guidance - Domestic and family violence services

People who work in the domestic and family violence (DFV) sector are critical to delivering quality services to victims (including children) and perpetrators. Supporting workers to develop their skills, knowledge and capabilities is an important element of service quality and improvement. This document sets out the principles and standards that funded DFV services are contractually required to comply with from 1 January 2021. These standards apply to people working in a broad range of DFV services including services for both victims and perpetrators as well as services targeting vulnerable population groups who are at a higher or a unique risk of DFV. The standards (and their associated principles and guidance) draw on practices and procedures that have been developed over decades by specialist DFV services, women’s services, and other agencies involved in working with people who use and experience violence.