Perpetrator intervention services requirements

The Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (the Act) is administered under the principle that people who commit domestic and family violence (DFV) should be held accountable for their use of violence and, if possible, provided with an opportunity to change.

To support this principle, the Act includes provision for the court to make an intervention order for the respondent (perpetrator) when a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) is being made or varied. This intervention order will require the respondent to attend an approved provider for assessment of their suitability to participate in an approved intervention program and/or counselling. Specific information about intervention orders can be found in sections 68 to 75 of the Act.

The Perpetrator intervention services requirements (PDF) (or DOCX) (the requirements) sets a minimum program standard for approved provider services, leading to quality outcomes for victims and perpetrators, as well as consistency across the sector. Currently only providers funded by the Queensland Government must comply with the requirements.

The requirements relate specifically to perpetrator intervention programs, including:

  • group readiness
  • duration of group programs
  • maximum number of group participants
  • gender of co-facilitators
  • qualification and experience requirements of facilitators
  • role, qualification, experience, frequency and duration of a victim advocate
  • role, experience and frequency of an observer.

The requirements came into effect on 1 January 2022 and are included in the Domestic and family violence support services investment specification.

Compliance with these requirements

We acknowledge that not every service may be fully compliant with the new requirements immediately and that not every service will always be fully compliant in the future, for reasons often outside of their control, for example availability of appropriate staff.

In acknowledgement of these challenges, a compliance monitoring and reporting process has been implemented. Services are required to:

  • assess their compliance with the requirements
  • report non-compliance with one or more requirements
  • outline the current practice/policy/procedures that are in place
  • outline the reasons for non-compliance
  • identify risk and risk mitigation strategies for non-compliance
  • identify actions required to achieve compliance with the requirement in the future
  • report progress towards achieving compliance.

Services who have a Service delivery and risk management plan (the plan) in place, and can demonstrate they are actively trying to be compliant with the requirements, will be deemed as compliant with the requirements for the term of the plan.

Self-assessment checklist

Services can assess their compliance with the requirements by completing the Perpetrator intervention services requirements self-assessment checklist (PDF) (or DOCX). If a service rates their compliance with a requirement as partially met or not met, a plan will be required.

Service delivery and risk management plan

The plan comprises 2 components:

The summary identifies:

  • what requirement categories have been identified to be included in the plan
  • the reporting schedule.

The plan requirement category attachments will enable services to identify:

  • non-compliance with 1 or more requirements within a requirement category
  • the current practice/policy/procedures that are in place
  • the reasons for non-compliance
  • risk and risk mitigation strategies for non-compliance
  • actions required to achieve compliance with the requirement in the future.

A plan must be negotiated with the service’s contract officer and can be in place for 12 months. The plan must be reviewed at 6 months and 12 months. The plan may be extended for a further 12 months if there are actions or factors outside of the service’s immediate control preventing them from being compliant with the requirement. An extension of the plan must be discussed and negotiated with the service’s contract officer.

Service delivery and risk management plan progress report

Services are required to complete the Service delivery and risk management plan progress report (PDF) (or DOCX) at 6 and 12 months, or at the time the service becomes compliant with the requirement.

Services and contract officers are expected to have informal discussions about their plan in between the 6-month and 12-month reviews as required.

Last updated:
1 June 2023