Specialist Family Violence Courts (SFVCs) in Victoria have had a profound impact on addressing family violence. These courts are designed to provide a safer and more accessible environment for victim-survivors, with features like separate entrances, safe waiting areas, and remote witness technology. They also offer specialised support services, including family violence practitioners who provide risk assessments, safety plans, and referrals to community agencies.
The courts aim to increase accountability for perpetrators and ensure timely resolution of cases. They handle intervention order applications alongside other matters, such as bail applications and family law parenting disputes. The establishment of SFVCs has been supported by significant funding and training programs to enhance their effectiveness.
Specialist Family Violence Courts (SFVCs) in Victoria operate with a focus on improving safety, support, and justice for victim-survivors of family violence. Here’s a deeper dive into how they function and their impact:
How do SFVCs operate?
- Safety Measures
These courts are designed to minimize the stress and risk for victim-survivors, offering features like separate entrances, private waiting areas, and secure spaces. Remote witness technology allows individuals to provide evidence without directly confronting the respondent.
- Specialised Teams
Family Violence Practitioners and support staff are present to conduct risk assessments, prepare safety plans, and connect individuals with community resources like housing or counselling services.
- Integrated Approach
SFVCs handle multiple related legal issues, such as intervention orders, criminal charges, and family law disputes, ensuring a more holistic approach to resolving matters.
4. Training and Expertise
Magistrates and staff undergo specialized training to understand the dynamics of family violence, trauma, and risk factors, enabling them to make informed decisions.
In Victoria
The Specialist Family Violence Courts (SFVCs) are committed to creating an accessible system where affected family members feel physically, emotionally and culturally safe.
The Courts are located at 13 locations across Victoria, including:
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Broadmeadows
- Dandenong
- Frankston
- Heidelberg
- Geelong
- La Trobe
- Melbourne
- Moorabbin
- Ringwood
- Shepparton
- Sunshine
The SFVCs are designed to support the safety and wellbeing of people affected by family violence and increase the accountability of people who have used violence against family members. All magistrates, registry and practitioners, engaged by the SFVCs are trained and specialise in family violence matters.
SFVCs can hear intervention order cases alongside other matters, including bail applications, pleas in criminal cases, family law parenting matters, and victims of crime applications related to family violence.
The SFVCs have:
- family violence registrars, who coordinate the listing of matters and work to ensure they are heard in a timely manner;
- specially trained family violence applicant and respondent practitioners who provide non-legal advice and support. Practitioners can provide referrals to community support agencies to ensure people have the support they need outside of court. They also complete risk assessments, develop safety plans, and provide information. Umalek Balit is a culturally safe, non-legal support program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who attend Court for family violence proceedings; and
- a collaborative response with police prosecutors, community-based specialist family violence services and lawyers with family violence training.
A number of SFVCs include additional safety features to provide a safer environment such as separate entrances, safe waiting areas, remote witness technology and private interview rooms.
The MCV Service Centre responds to Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) enquiries. The development of the online application for a Family Violence Intervention Order also provides greater accessibility for affected family members seeking to apply for an FVIO.