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FNAAFVFNAAFVFirst Nations Advocates Against Family Violence
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13YARN13 92 76 — First Nations crisis line1800RESPECT1800 737 732 — domestic, family & sexual violence

FNAAFV acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

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FVPLS’ – What They Do

Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services (FVPLS) are specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations that provide culturally safe legal and non-legal support to First Nations women and children affected by domestic, family, and sexual violence.

Established in 1998, FVPLS organisations were created to ensure victim-survivors could access specialised and culturally appropriate representation and support. This addressed a critical gap, as Aboriginal Legal Services often represented alleged perpetrators, creating a conflict of interest that left First Nations victims without legal assistance.

Today, FVPLS organisations are highly experienced providers, with 95% of clients being First Nations women and children, and remain uniquely positioned to deliver services grounded in culture, safety, and community.

Holistic Response to Family Violence

FVPLS’ are not just file management legal services, they support clients and communities along the full continuum of their needs, by providing:

  • prevention and early intervention services delivered to communities (such as outreach and education programs)
  • legal advice, case management support and service advocacy (for example, after violence has occurred)
  • recovery and healing programs (post-violence).

FVPLS’ provide a wrap around, holistic, service delivery model because they understand it is necessary to address the interconnected factors that cause family violence as well as the needs of First Nations people affected by family violence.

FVPLS’ support clients and their children with non-legal services such as:

  • case management
  • court support
  • child protection advice and intervention
  • service system referrals
  • advocacy
  • kinship liaison.

FVPLS’ also provide clients and their children specialist legal services and support in relation to:

  • Family violence
  • Protective restraining orders
  • Child protection
  • Victims of crime compensation
  • Witness assistance law.