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Pathways to safety and enhanced accountability

Domestic and Family Violence

2024–25

In 2024-25, Brisbane Domestic and Family Violence Service (BDVS) improved support for women and families experiencing violence by working directly with local family services, police, and courts.

With other community organisations and a network of specialist organisations, they’re supporting broader reforms, improving support and making it easier for people to get the help they need.

Key figures

2,109 women

supported with first response or ongoing planned support

Specialist Services

From crisis to recovery

Confidential support and advocacy. To community members from diverse backgrounds, mostly women. Providing access to support and increased safety from intimate partner or family violence.

High risk and specialist team. Enhancing safety, and strengthening protection and support for women and their children.

Specialist DFV services:

  • Referrals to safe, stable accommodation and refuge.
  • Psychoeducation and information.
  • Risk assessment and safety planning.
  • Support and advocacy.

‎ Safer Lives Mobile Service

Delivering 24/7 support through crisis accommodation and housing pathways.

SLMS 2024–25

1,059

women and 245 children supported in DVConnect safe accommodation

95

referrals from DVConnect

413

rapid response supports

204 from hospitals

209 from QPS

315

women engaged with support into housing pathway planning and safety planning

In collaboration with DV Connect, Queensland Police Service, and hospitals for women and family members leaving domestic violence.

Men’s behaviour change

Providing an opportunity to reflect on beliefs, attitudes, value and choices leading to using violence, whilst offering victim survivors an opportunity for support and safety.

Safer and Accountable Men (SAM) 2024–25

552


 


 


 

men supported

280 SAM Program

252 Sandgate Court

20 Supporting Recovery Care pilot

Key figures

325 women

supported by SAM Women’s Advocate

Thank you for your all of your help and assistance. I still have a long way to go, but I’m forever grateful for everything that you have done for me. Just you being there listening to me, giving me so much advice and helping me was amazing.

— Micah Projects participant

Brisbane Housing Connectors

Providing planned support and advocacy to support women to access and sustain housing safely as they recover from domestic and family violence.

Key figures

53 women

supported into stable and sustainable housing after experiencing domestic and family violence in their recovery journey

9 adults

using violence supported into stable and sustainable housing

Thank you to our funders, consortia, partners and collaborators

  • Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety (DFSDSCS)
  • Queensland Police Service (QPS),
  • Financial Counselling Australia
  • Brisbane South Primary Health Network.

Integrated Services

Working with government services such as health, courts, police, child safety, corrections and housing.

Working with community through connection and referral services, the Spread the Warmth campaign, and Candlelighting Vigils.

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Working with Police

Specialist practitioners and services embedded with Queensland Police Service.

2024–25

1,315


 

victim-survivors supported by DFV Specialist Practitioners embedded with 10 Police Stations

783 supported in person at a police station

5,544

referrals received by BDVS from the QPS

775

women supported by a DFV specialist advocate with the QPS Vulnerable Persons Unit

‎

Financial Counselling

Helping rebuild financial stability after abusive relationships.

2024–25

136

accessed financial counselling

215

Appointments

Financial Counselling is provided with funding from Australian Financial Foundation.



Key figures

$1,233,307 debt

accrued due to economic abuse waived with financial couselling support

I plan to continue working on my cultural framework and use an action plan to keep myself accountable to the changes I can make to improve my practice for First Nations people.

— Forum Participant

Government and Community

‎

Working with government services

We are active members in WorkUp Queensland Growing Our Workforce, contributing to the growth and establishment of more specialist practitioners across the sector.

We hosted Practice Forums to enhance the understanding and improve whole of system responses to the diverse needs of our community, these included:

  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Victim Survivors, Immigrant Women’s Support Service
  • Intellectual or Learning Disabilities Victim Survivors by Women with Intellectual or Learning Disabilities (WWILD)
  • Exploring and developing your first nations cultural competency, Strong Women Talking
  • Queering Practice, Queer and Trans Workers Against Violence
  • Understanding and supporting sex workers with DFV, Respect Inc

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Working with community

We work with the community through connection and referral services, the Spread the Warmth campaign, and Candlelighting Vigils.

The annual Candlelighting Vigil was held in May to acknowledge and remember people who have lost their lives because of domestic or family abuse.

Spread the Warmth Campaign

$2,735

raised for women experiencing domestic and family violence

457

brand new robes
donated by community members

This was an amazing learning opportunity and enjoyed discussing myths and challenge my own unconscious bias.