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Workplace package for domestic and family violence

Domestic and family violence (DFV) can impact a person’s safety, wellbeing, attendance, and performance at work.

As Queensland’s largest employer, we contribute towards ending DFV by:

  • preventing violence
  • supporting affected employees
  • building a culture of respect and gender equity.

We developed a DFV workplace package to strengthen support for affected employees. It also contributes to the workforce-related actions in:

We encourage local government, business, and non-government organisations (NGOs) to adopt the package to suit the needs of their workplace. Everyone has the right to feel safe and supported in the workplace.

Table of Contents

  1. 1Workplace package
  2. 2Workplace package flagship evaluation
  3. 3Workplace partners

1. Workplace package

Whole-of-government DFV directive

Directive 04/15 – Support for employees affected by domestic and family violence details support options available in our workplace:

The directive provides Queensland Government employees with more favourable entitlements than the minimum safety net entitlements for state and local government employees outlined in the Industrial Relations Act 2016.

Learn more about how to apply the directive.

Model policy template

We encourage workplaces to implement a DFV policy to support employees affected by DFV.

Download the model policy template.

Leadership pledge

We encourage leaders to sign a pledge to show their commitment to ending DFV, and to display in workplaces.

Download the leadership pledge template (DOC, 206 KB).

Recognise, Respond, Refer e-learning program

Employees can increase their understanding of DFV and how to support affected colleagues by completing the online Recognise, Respond, Refer program developed by Australia’s CEO Challenge in partnership with the Queensland Government.

The program offers insight into how to deal with situations related to DFV that may arise in the workplace.

Contact your local human resource team for more information.

Support options and resources

Employees

Managers

Agencies and workplaces

    Communication toolkit

    These resources raise awareness of DFV prevention and support options for affected employees:

      2. Workplace package flagship evaluation

      The Queensland Government is committed to putting an end to domestic and family violence, and providing a safe and respectful working environment for all employees.

      An independent flagship evaluation has been undertaken of the Queensland Government’s workplace response to domestic and family violence. The evaluation aimed to understand implementation progress across the Queensland public sector against the workplace-related commitments of the Not Now, Not Ever taskforce report, the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016–2026, and the broader domestic and family violence reform agenda.

      Since the flagship evaluation report was completed, the Queensland Government has announced its policy position that domestic and family violence leave can only be accessed by perpetrators of violence under very limited circumstances i.e.

      • where it has been demonstrated by evidence that the employee is attending a recognised and authorised program
      • when all other available leave has been exhausted.

      The Public Service Commission is formally reviewing Directive 4/15 Support for employees affected by domestic and family violence, to ensure alignment with this policy. An updated directive will be re-issued early in 2019, following consultation with agencies and unions.

      3. Workplace partners