Domestic and family violence has consistently featured in the nation's headlines for the past year with numerous cases resulting in high profile campaigns to reduce the number of victims.
Recently, following a key recommendation of the joint Australian Law Reform Commission Report and the New South Wales Law Reform Commission Report, 'Family Violence—A National Legal Response', the first stage of new guidelines for judges and magistrates was launched.
An initiative of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration, the 'National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book' is intended to promote best practice in domestic and family-related violence court cases.
Attorney-General George Brandis welcomed the initiative, saying that the book would benefit more than just judicial officers. Importantly, the book "will also assist other service providers and legal professionals who are working with victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence."
The book outlines the different kinds of abuse victims can experience including: physical violence and harm, emotional and psychological abuse, as well as social, economic, cultural and spiritual abuse.
The second and final stage of the National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book is scheduled for release by June, 2017.
View the National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book.
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