Specialist crisis FDV services pilot project

What is the specialist crisis FDV services pilot project?

The Australian Government Department of Social Services has funded the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to develop a pilot (prototype) data collection on specialist crisis family and domestic violence (FDV) services, due for completion in 2026.

This project comprises three complementary phases of work: a pilot data collection (sometimes referred to as Phase 1), a dedicated First Nations phase of consultation, and a technical consultation.

The project:

• focuses on government-funded specialist FDV services that provide a crisis response to victim-survivors
• develops the necessary foundations for national data to support research and policy
• could be expanded in the future to consider other specialist services.

Organisations participating in the project can access key resources, technical materials and updates on the FDV pilot – Key resources for participants page.

Why is it important?

There is currently no nationally collated information about specialist FDV services in Australia, except for some data available through the AIHW’s Specialist Homelessness Services collection.

The project is an opportunity for states and territories and service outlets to contribute to the co-design of a future national collection.

The project addresses several core national policy priority areas, including:

• creating nationally consistent FDV service data items, with harmonised definitions
• improving understanding of demand and unmet demand for FDV services
• increasing data on people experiencing FDV that may be linked to other data sources to provide insights into long-term outcomes.

Who has been consulted?

The AIHW has completed waves of consultation with state and territory departments that fund the in-scope services, and consulted with service providers, national advisory groups, peak bodies, advocacy groups, and people with lived experience from across Australia.

Consultation with key stakeholders will continue throughout the project.

How is the project engaging with services supporting First Nations people?

To ensure recommendations from this project are appropriately informed by the experience and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people a dedicated First Nations phase of work is underway.

This will involve consultation with organisations providing specialist crisis FDV services that predominantly support people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. This includes organisations that are not Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Details and timing of First Nations-led engagement with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations will be determined through ongoing planning and consultation with First Nations co-governance bodies. This work will be overseen by Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices governance arrangements.

What has been achieved so far?

As at April 2026, the AIHW has:

• commenced the pilot data collection, including:
  • obtained ethics approval
  • recruited over 100 service outlets to participate
  • published a data collection template and metadata specifications for new data items
  • implemented funding and data sharing arrangements with participating outlets
  • developed and delivered training to participating outlets
• supported a third-party consultant to lead consultations with client management system developers and vendors on the technical implications of a future national data collection
• completed a consultation process with organisations that predominately support First Nations people (but are not Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations) to participate in a consultation process.

A summary of a recommended way forward for the pilot data collection, including an overview of the in-depth consultation completed by the AIHW to June 2025, can be found in the report Towards a pilot data collection on specialist crisis FDV services.

What are the next steps?

For each of the 3 phases of the project, the key next steps are as follows:

• The scheduled pilot data collection period commenced March 2026. Following this, participating service outlets will provide feedback through a post-pilot consultation process.
• Synthesis of consultations with organisations providing services that predominantly support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• The technical stream of work, led by a third-party consultant, is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

Where can I get more information?

The AIHW is committed to maintaining the privacy and security of information collected during the pilot and has worked closely with service outlets to establish data sharing arrangements that are legal, safe, ethical and secure. More information on privacy and security can be found in Privacy policy.

If you have any questions please contact [email protected].