Veteran community family and domestic violence risk factors education

In late 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs DVA, in partnership with Phoenix Australia, the University of Melbourne, and Australian Institute of Family Studies, published the 'Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and families report' and the 'Families Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme Data Analyses project'. These reports are the first of its kind to investigate IPV trends in Australian current and ex-serving defence members and their families. For more information, including a copy of the report, see Intimate Partner Violence among current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and families.

In May 2024, the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner conducted a webinar during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (May 2024) titled ‘Understanding Intimate Partner Violence and Family Domestic Violence: Context and Action’. This webinar was hosted by the Veterans Families Guild through their online group, Our Space, and was co-presented with Dr Sean Cowlishaw. For more information see Our Webinars - Families of Veterans Guild.

The key aim of these activities is to improve the evidence base of family and domestic violence (FDV) risk factors in the veteran community, with a view of improving education and awareness and enhancing services and supports. In 2025-2026 DVA is developing a Life Event Guide for transitioning veterans. If codesign and stakeholder feedback reflect a need for domestic violence information, this will be included in the life guide.

DVA has commissioned Monash University as part of a partnership project with the Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) for the Foundations for Family and Domestic Violence reporting among military personnel and veterans project. The project is currently underway and aims to identify, profile and inform improvements in data related to FDV among ADF personnel and veterans. Findings are due September 2026. For more information see Using data to respond to domestic and family violence perpetration within military and veteran families.