Domestic and family violence

Brisbane City Council supports the right of all people to live free from violence, abuse or intimidation. Domestic and family violence is a serious social, health and safety issue for all levels of Australian government and social agencies to act on as a matter of urgency.

Domestic and family violence has significant impacts including personal emotional trauma for individuals and far-reaching costs for the wider community.

1 in 4 women experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4906.0 ‘Personal Safety. Australia, 2016’

1 in 6 women and 1 in 10 men experienced abuse before the age of 15

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4906.0 ‘Personal Safety. Australia, 2016’

1 in 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experienced family and domestic violence (based on their most recent experience of physical violence)

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4714.0 ‘National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2014-15’

1 in 3 LGBTIQ+ people report having been in an abusive relationship

DVRCV Advocate, ‘Family violence in an LGBTIQ context, Dr Kate O’Halloran, 2015.’

Domestic and family violence can affect any person irrespective of age, gender, socio-economic status or cultural background. Certain groups within the community may be at greater risk of experiencing domestic and family violence.

These groups can include but are not limited to people with disability and impairment, people with mental illness, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+).

Council works in partnership at all levels of government and social agencies to collectively prevent violence in the community and keep families safe.

Domestic and Family Violence Strategy

The Domestic and Family Violence Strategy has been developed in response to Council’s commitment to work in partnership with the community and all levels of government to reduce violence happening in homes across our city and keep families safe.

Download the strategy:

How to report domestic violence

For domestic violence related matters, contact Queensland Police on 131 444, available 24 hours, seven days a week. Alternatively, you can make contact with a police officer or police station through the Contact Queensland Police form.

Queensland Police also have a messaging service that allows vulnerable persons to contact police for non-urgent matters through SMS messaging.

Support and resources

Is the incident of domestic violence happening now? Is anyone seriously injured or in immediate danger? Is anyone’s life being threatened?

Call 000 immediately

If you are experiencing domestic or family violence of any type, there are a number of resources and support agencies you can contact including:

Last updated:

Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the Dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.