Welcome to the Domestic and Family Violence & Psychology Interest Group

Domestic and family violence continues to devastate individuals, families and communities in Australia. 

The Domestic and Family Violence & Psychology (DFVP) Interest Group brings together psychologists and allied professionals who are working towards a world free from domestic and family violence, and who are committed to advancing prevention, safety, and healing in this context.

Our group provides a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative space to share knowledge, strengthen practice, and contribute to systemic change. 

Background:

The Domestic and Family Violence & Psychology Interest Group was originally formed to stem a gap in psychologists’ understanding of, and roles in, domestic and family violence ‘prevention’, and to enhance further understanding in the field.

In recognition that domestic and family violence can appear in the profession across any speciality, and that psychologists can and do play a critical role in this area, the Terms of Reference were expanded in 2025 to reflect the profession’s capacity not only in prevention, but also early intervention, response, recovery, healing and system reform.

It also saw a critical name change away from a prevention-only focus, to Domestic and Family Violence & Psychology, to reflect the whole profession.

The committee today: 

The Domestic and Family Violence & Psychology committee warmly welcome practitioners, researchers, students, and advocates who share a commitment to evidence-based, ethical, and progressive approaches. Whether your focus is clinical practice, prevention, policy, systems reform, or research, there is a place for you here.

We are guided by values of safety, respect, integrity, accountability, collaboration and progressive research.

The Interest Group acknowledges that domestic and family violence is a gender-based issue; that men overwhelmingly perpetrate violence against women and children, and that while women can be perpetrators, they can also be misidentified.

The Group recognises intimate partner violence in LGBTIQA+ relationships, and recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culturally-diverse people are overrepresented across all areas of domestic and family violence.

Lastly, this group acknowledges the intersectionalities with domestic and family violence, specifically mental health, trauma and substance use and that these factors whilst very prevalent, should never be used to minimise violence. 

By joining this Interest Group, you agree to uphold the APS Code of Conduct in your practice and when engaging with each other.

Terms of Reference

1. To foster an understanding about domestic and family violence including promoting common language about concepts, terms and definitions, patterns of perpetration, impacts, risk frameworks, legalities and so on, that are relevant to the profession.
2. To promote innovative and progressive information, resources, recent and robust research and discussion about domestic and family violence.
3. To support psychologists to clarify, understand and expand their professional roles across all areas of domestic and family violence.
4. To share emerging themes and trends about intersectionalities in domestic and family violence that are relevant for psychologists across all fields.
5. To promote the development and use of evidence-based risk assessment tools and frameworks.
6. To promote innovative perpetrator programs and therapeutic interventions.
7. To seek collaboration with other Interest Groups with the intention to share and expand knowledge in recognition that domestic and family violence can appear in any psychological role and speciality.
8. To share multi-disciplinary perspectives where the approach is supported by scientific evidence and could work in partnership with the psychology profession.
9. To enable and support psychologists to recognise the effects of domestic and family violence impacting the profession.
10. To be clear about one's own values and philosophical underpinnings related to providing psychological services to perpetrators and victim-survivor clients.