‘Can’t you girls work this out?’: LGBTQ+ victim-survivors’ experiences of Victoria’s family violence intervention order system

This report draws on the research findings of a joint project between the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre and the LGBTIQ Legal Service, Southside Justice. The report examines the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) family violence victim-survivors with Victoria’s family violence intervention order (FVIO) system; it considers the experiences of LGBTQ+ victim-survivors who have engaged with the system as ‘affected family members’ (victims) and/or ‘respondents’ (perpetrators). The report offers unique insight into how LGBTQ+ victim-survivors are engaging with the law for protection from family violence, in addition to how the law is being used against them by abusers. The report makes a series of policy and practice recommendations aimed at improving legal and non-legal responses to family violence experienced by LGBTQ+ victim-survivors.