intervention order (IVO) Melbourne
(Family & Personal Safety)
If you are in immediate danger, call 000
Family violence doesn’t always look like what you’d expect. It isn’t only physical and it isn’t only between partners and spouses. Sometimes it’s a mother-in-law, an adult child, a sibling, or someone else living under the same roof. Many people stay silent because they’ve grown up believing that family matters should never leave the house. In some cases, individuals are afraid of speaking up as they fear their community will judge them negatively. We have also seen individuals who have endured family violence for fear of losing their visa or their children.
We want to state this clearly: protecting yourself is NOT a betrayal of your family. It is your right and Victorian law recognises it regardless of your background, your religion, your visa status or your marriage.
What Counts as Family Violence
Family violence covers far more than physical harm. It includes:
- Physical harm or threats of harm
- Financial control: being denied access to money, having bank cards taken or your income withheld
- Threats to have you deported or to withdraw visa sponsorship
- Being cut off from friends, family overseas or your community
- Emotional or verbal abuse, humiliation or constant monitoring
- Damage to property or threats made against your children or pets
If any of this sounds familiar, you may already have grounds to apply for protection and an Intervention Order (IVO) even if nothing has ever turned physical. There are two types of Intervention Orders that you can apply for:
1. Family Violence intervention Order (FVIO)
A Family Intervention Order (FVIO) can help protect you from any violence from a spouse, partner (including de facto relationships), an ex-partner, a relative, in-laws or anyone else who lives in your household. This also includes if you are living within a joint family household and can extend to also protect your children. An FVIO is also applicable if you are living within an arranged marriage and have a dowry-related dispute.
2. Personal Safety Intervention Order (PSIO)
Not every threat to your safety comes from inside your home. Sometimes it’s from a neighbour, a co-worker, a landlord, an acquaintance or even strangers. It can also include someone from your community, temple or church group. These situations can feel even harder to act on, however if someone is stalking, threatening or harassing you, you’re entitled to protection. A PSIO covers anyone who isn’t a family member under the law.
What Counts as Grounds for a Personal Safety Intervention Order:
You may have grounds to apply if you’re experiencing:
- Stalking or repeated unwanted contact.
- Spoken or written threats including messages sent over sms or social media.
- Harassment at work, in your neighbourhood or within a community or religious group.
- Damage to your property.
- Assault, including incidents where you weren’t physically injured.
How we can help
Getting an intervention order is only part of it. Our Family Law team can help you move quickly, ensuring the order properly addresses contact arrangements, children and shared housing. Beyond the paperwork, having a lawyer who understands your community context means you’re not just another file for us. We will help explain every step in plain language, without judgment and without rushing you.
Will Your Visa be affected?
Seeking an IVO (intervention order) does not automatically put your visa at risk. If you hold a partner visa and are experiencing family violence, specific protections may apply to you under migration law. As this is a common and understandable worry, we work closely with our clients to make sure their safety and visa security are addressed together, not treated as separate problems.
If you’re unsure whether your situation fits a PSIO or an FVIO, that’s completely normal. The two orders exist for different relationships and we can help you work out which applies to you.
How To Apply for an Intervention Order (Family or Personal):
Applying for a Intervention order (IVO) is more straightforward than most people expect. There are 2 different ways to apply:
1. Call Victoria Police.
- If you need immediate protection, contact Victoria Police. They will apply for Emergency (interim) orders, which can often be granted quickly (within a matter of hours).
- Go to a Police station and speak to an officer about your concern.
- Let them know that you want to apply for an Intervention Order.
- Answer any questions they may ask.
- Victoria Police will complete an application on your behalf and submit to a Magistrate court.
- The court will review your application and provide a date for your hearing.
- While you wait for the hearing date, the court will grant you Emergency Interim Orders that will apply immediately.
- We recommend you to contact a lawyer at any time to get legal advice. Contact us by email or phone.
- When the final hearing is set to finalise the orders, Victoria Police will present you. You will be notified of the outcome.
2. Apply for an Intervention order yourself.
- If you are thinking of applying for an Intervention Order (Family or Personal), get in touch with us. We will help you understand your rights and how the order can protect you.
- You can apply yourself online for an IVO.
- The Magistrate Court will review your application and provide a date for your hearing.
- While you wait for the hearing date, the court will grant you Emergency Interim Orders that will apply immediately.
- In this process, Victoria Police aren’t presenting you. On the day of your hearing, we will represent you in court.
Going to court can feel intimidating, but please note that this isn’t a criminal trial. An Intervention Order is a civil matter and applying for one does not give you a criminal record. It is a legal process designed to protect you.
Have you received an Intervention Order against you?
If you have received an Intervention Order:
- Get in touch with us as soon as possible. We will provide you with legal advice as you need to understand conditions on the order.
- DO NOT contact the other person until you have spoken with a lawyer.
- It is important that you follow all conditions on the interim order while you wait to attend your hearing. If you breach any of the conditions, you may also be committing a criminal offence.
- Our Family Law team will give you advice and appear for you in court for the final hearing.
Apply for an Intervention Order?
Contact us!
We are here to help. Our team is available between Monday to Friday between 9:30am – 5:30pm AEST.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. An FVIO isn’t limited to spouses or intimate partners. It can protect you from any family member including in-laws, siblings, adult children or relatives you live with. If the person causing you harm is part of your household or family network, you may be eligible to apply, regardless of the specific relationship.
No, applying for an FVIO does not automatically affect your visa. In fact, if you’re on a partner visa and experiencing family violence, there are protections designed specifically for your situation. Get in touch with us as our team understands both family violence and migration law. This way both matters are handled together.
No. Family violence includes emotional abuse, financial control, threats and isolation, not just physical harm. Courts recognise that violence takes many forms and you don’t need to have experienced physical assault to have valid grounds for an FVIO. A lawyer can help you understand what evidence supports your specific circumstances.
Having an IVO against you does not automatically mean your visa will be refused or cancelled. However, if you have been charged with or convicted of breaching an IVO, this may affect your visa. Under Section 501 of migration act, character assessment (criminal or general conduct) can be taken into account.
