A New Chapter in QDVSN’s Herstory
For more than three decades, the Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network (QDVSN) has been a driving force in building Queensland’s coordinated response to domestic and family violence (DFV).
From its origins in the early 1990s following the Beyond These Walls report and the establishment of the first regional domestic violence services QDVSN has consistently championed the voices of victim-survivors and the expertise of specialist DFV practitioners.
Now, that legacy enters a new era.
The Hon. Amanda Camm MP, Minister for Families, Seniors, Disability Services, Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic Violence has announced that the creation of a new DFV Peak Body will be fast-tracked and established by QDVSN, recognising the decades of sector leadership, advocacy, and on-the-ground expertise within the network.
“We welcome the opportunity to work and partner with government and the sector to strengthen frontline services, so victim-survivors and their families receive the specialist support they deserve and need.” Sandi Keogh & Stacey Ross, Co-Convenors, and Verity Bennett, Secretariat, QDVSN
At our October Quarterly Meeting (13–15 October), hosted by Mackay Women’s Services, QDVSN members met with Hon. Amanda Camm MP, Minister for Families, Seniors, Disability Services, Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Director-General Belinda Drew, and Deputy Director-General Bernadette Harvey.
Together, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to collaboration, partnership, and effective implementation of Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Strategy. The government’s recognition of the expertise and advocacy of DFV Specialist Services across Queensland represented through QDVSN’s network underscores the vital role of specialist knowledge in achieving genuine safety and positive reform.
QDVSN members have unanimously committed to founding the new DFV Peak, ensuring inclusive representation from specialist services across the sector in Queensland. Our aim is to establish a dedicated, representative Peak Body that:
- Strengthens Queensland’s frontline DFV response system
- Promotes quality, consistency, and evidence-informed practice
- Ensures the voices of victim-survivors and DFV practitioners shape reform
- Advocates for policies grounded in lived experience and specialist expertise
This development builds on the groundwork established by QCOSS, whose contributions will be continued by QDVSN as we take on the next phase of establishment. QDVSN is working toward the formal establishment of the new DFV Peak in early 2026.
A meeting of sector networks will be held on 5 December 2025, bringing together specialist networks to discuss progress and establishment timelines and membership and engagement priorities.
Further details will be circulated soon. Until then, if you have questions or to express interest in participating, please contact us at secretary@qdvsn.org.
As we step into this next chapter, QDVSN remains grounded in the same purpose that guided our formation to build a safer Queensland through specialist expertise, collaboration, and the unwavering belief that every person deserves a life free from violence.