Domestic Violence Unit

The Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) is a statewide specialist team of lawyers, domestic violence case workers, mental health workers and financial counsellors who work together to help clients who have experienced domestic and family violence with their legal and other needs.

The DVU can help clients better understand their legal problems and the choices they have.

There is no cost involved with seeing one of our lawyers, case workers, mental health workers or financial counsellors. We are separate from other Legal Aid NSW lawyers. This means we can provide assistance even if clients are in dispute with someone who is receiving help from another Legal Aid office.

We can help victims of domestic and family violence with their legal and other needs. Clients can bring a person they trust like a support worker, close friend or family member. We can also book an interpreter to assist.

We can help with:

• getting an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO)
• sorting out arrangements for children
• sorting out property problems after separation
• getting a divorce
• getting child support and /or maintenance
• help with sorting out problems with Community Services (DCJ or FaCS, once called DOCS)
• help with victims support
• immigration issues where a relationship has broken down because of domestic and family violence
• assistance with legal problems to do with paying the mortgage, credit and debt issues and housing
• help with defending an ADVO in some circumstances. For example if you are a victim of domestic and family violence
• help with defending domestic violence criminal charges in some circumstances.

Services our lawyers provide:

• legal advice (by appointment, on the telephone or at free advice clinics)
• help at court alongside the AVO list (see table above of which courts)
• help at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) (see table below)
• casework assistance in a range of legal matters including apprehended domestic violence orders, family law and care and protection matters
• community legal education about domestic and family violence for community groups and other professionals
• referral to other legal and non-legal help.

Services our caseworkers, mental health workers and financial counsellors provide:

• safety planning and risk assessments
• non-legal advocacy with Police, Housing, Centrelink, banks or other lenders
• financial health checks
• budgeting
• preparing for court and court support
• referrals to appropriate services for counselling, housing, financial support/vouchers, courses, for example, parenting after separation, behaviour change, and to meet other identified client needs
• other practical support.