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Family violence intervention orders

A family violence intervention order is a court order that protects a person from a family member who is using family violence. An order can also protect children, property or people supporting the protected person.

A protected person is someone protected by an intervention order. It can also be a person protected by a family violence safety notice. See 'Family violence safety notices' (link below).

Family violence

Family violence is harmful behaviour that is used to control, threaten, force or dominate a family member through fear. It includes:

  • physical abuse, such as hitting or pushing a person around
  • sexual abuse, such as forcing a person to have sex
  • emotional or psychological abuse, such as controlling who a person can see and when, or calling them names
  • financial abuse, such as controlling a person's money.

Family violence is also behaviour that makes a family member fear for the safety of:

  • their property
  • another person
  • an animal.

If a child hears, sees or is around family violence in any way, they are also covered by the law. This includes if a child:

  • helps a family member who has been abused
  • sees damaged property in the family home
  • is at a family violence incident when the police arrive.

Family members

Under family violence law, family members are:

  • people who share an intimate personal relationship – for example, married, de facto or domestic partners – whether or not it is a sexual relationship
  • parents and children, including children of an intimate partner 
  • relatives by birth, marriage or adoption
  • people you treat like a family member – for example, a carer, guardian or person who is related to you within the family structure of your culture.

The law also protects a person from anyone who was a family member in the past.

More information

How to get an intervention order

Conditions in a family violence intervention order

Family violence orders to protect children

Family violence safety notice

If an application has been made against you

What the police do about family violence

Related publications

Family violence intervention order publications

Related websites

Family Violence – Victorian State Government (new window)

How we can help

Call Victoria Legal Aid’s (VLA) Legal Information Service for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter.

Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

VLA’s other free legal services include:

  • advice at VLA offices and other locations across Victoria
  • lawyers who are on ‘duty’ at the Magistrates’ Courts who can give you advice on the day of your hearing.

For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.

Who else can help?

If you are in danger, call the police on ‘000’.

Your local community legal centre (CLC) can give you legal information and advice. Most CLC services are free. See the Community Law website (new window) for more information and CLC contact details.

See Getting help – services for details of organisations that can help with family violence, family dispute resolution and other support services.