Community consultations

A total of 44 group consultation sessions were held for individuals affected by family violence and those who work closely with them. Approximately 850 people participated in sessions across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Specific groups consulted included older victims, culturally and linguistically diverse women, male victims, perpetrators, female prisoners, sex workers, Aboriginal representatives and services, children and youth services, women with disabilities, Islamic women and community leaders, faith leaders, and representatives from the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities.

Briefings and site visits

The Commission received informal briefings from a number of experts and visited a range of organisations.  These briefings and visits provided opportunities for detailed and wide-ranging questioning which, in turn, helped guide the Commission's research agenda and the content of its public hearings.  They also played an invaluable part in bringing to life matters canvassed in the more formal Commission processes. 

Stakeholder and expert roundtables

The Commission held roundtables discussions with stakeholders and experts from within and outside the family violence sector in September 2015. The roundtables provided an opportunity for key stakeholders and experts to exchange and debate views with each other in a frank and candid way.