For professionals seeking information on family violence and sexual violence, with a focus on improving outcomes for individuals, children, families and communities.
Family violence, also known as domestic violence or abuse, is any abusive behaviour that is used to control someone in a family, family-like or intimate relationship, and makes that person afraid for their safety and wellbeing or the safety of another person. Family violence is also often a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour and it is rarely a one-off incident. Family violence can affect anyone, regardless of sex, age, race, sexuality, disability, income, gender or lifestyle. However, violent behaviour is most frequently used by men, to exercise power and control over women and children.
Sexual violence is a broad term that captures any sexual act or attempt to engage in a sexual act where consent is not obtained or freely and voluntarily given. It represents any behaviour of a sexual nature that makes someone feel uncomfortable, frightened, intimidated or threatened. It is sexual behaviour that someone has not agreed to, where another person uses force, coercion or manipulation.
These four peak bodies are working together to support their respective workforces to build and use evidence from research, evaluation, practice expertise and lived experience to deliver high quality services and better outcomes for their clients.
The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Peak body for Child and Family Services in Victoria.
Safe and Equal
The peak body for Victorian organisations specialising in family violence and gender-based violence across the continuum.
SASVic
The peak body for sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services in Victoria.
No to Violence
The national peak body representing organisations and individuals who work with men to end family violence.
This Knowledge Hub is a collaborative platform for our joint workforces, family violence and sexual violence researchers and policymakers. It supports sharing of expertise, building a shared language and fostering collaboration to better support individuals, children, young people and families who have experienced family violence or sexual violence.
The Family Violence and Sexual Violence Knowledge Hub is funded by the Commonwealth Government through the National Partnership Agreement and by the Victorian Government.
As part of this collaboration, the four peak bodies have developed an Evidence Framework to guide the work of our respective sectors and to ensure we collectively capture accurate information to inform policy and advocacy, workforce development, programs, practice and projects.
This Evidence Framework serves as a comprehensive guide to build a shared understanding of evidence across the four peaks, supporting the effective use, collection, and creation of evidence relevant to our sectors.
By integrating diverse perspectives—from those with lived experiences of our services and systems, to insights from frontline practice, cutting-edge research, and program evaluations—we aim to drive meaningful change. This framework supports us to improve outcomes for victim-survivors of family and sexual violence, including children and young people, ensuring our efforts are grounded in knowledge and compassion.
We will continue to expand the content on the Family Violence Sexual Violence Knowledge Hub, regularly updating and adding new materials. We welcome contributions that focus on supporting the best outcomes for adults, children, young people and families, including those from marginalised communities who experience intersecting barriers to accessing support. These can be key research, program reports, practice resources, case studies, webinars or opportunities related to training. If you have content you would like to share through the Family Violence Sexual Violence Knowledge Hub, email open@cfecfw.asn.au
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing family violence or sexual violence, you can contact:
Please note that the information provided on this Family Violence Sexual Violence Knowledge Hub is curated to be the most recent and relevant available. While the content is continually being developed and will be regularly updated to reflect the latest insights and best practices, these resources are not exhaustive. While we strive to maintain the accuracy and timeliness of the information, we encourage users to check back frequently for new and refreshed materials, and to contact the relevant peak body if you would like more information about family violence, sexual violence and/or working with children and families in this context.
