Domestic violence and the workplace: What You need to know
Is your workplace prepared to address family and domestic violence?
Family and domestic violence (FDV) affects every aspect of an employee’s life, including work. Managers and team leaders play a critical role in creating a safe, supportive environment. Here’s what you need to know:
Why domestic violence and the workplace matters
- A workplace health and safety issue: One in five women are harassed by perpetrators while at work.
- Abuse takes many forms: Physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and technological abuse can all impact employees.
- A productivity and economic issue: FDV costs the Australian economy $21.7 billion annually in health, administration, and social welfare. It also leads to absenteeism, lost wages, staff turnover, and lower morale.
Rights and Responsibilities
Employers play an important role in supporting staff affected by family and domestic violence (FDV). Understanding workplace rights and responsibilities helps create a safer, more supportive environment for everyone.
Australian workplace laws provide leave entitlements and protections for employees experiencing FDV. Organisations can further support staff through flexible work arrangements, workplace safety measures and clear policies.
Starick can provide guidance on legal obligations, FDV workplace policies and practical ways to support employees while fostering a safe and inclusive workplace culture.
How Starick can help
Resources for workplaces: Brochures, posters, fact sheets, guest speakers, and information about FDV support services.
Education and training: Access training to increase staff awareness. We can help integrate FDV awareness and respectful relationships into induction and development programs.
For more information email info@starick.org.au
Lived Experience Stories
The women in these moving but challenging stories are real people. However, their names have been changed to protect their identity. Some women have shared their stories at our events, and some have gone on to become passionate advocates for family and domestic violence.
Ways Starick Can Support You
Starick is a charity supporting women and children escaping domestic and family violence. We work predominantly in Perth’s south-eastern metropolitan region. Our vision is to build futures free from violence for the women and children who use our service and for the community as a whole.
Crisis Accommodation for Women and Children
Starick’s Mary Smith Refuge and Starick House offer short-term crisis accommodation for women and children who need a safe place to stay.
Mobile Outreach
Starick’s Mobile Outreach supports women and children living in the community, who are experiencing family and domestic violence and are unable or unwilling to access refuge accommodation.
Safe at Home
Starick’s Safe at Home Program is designed to help women and children experiencing domestic or family violence to stay safely in their homes after separation from their abuser.
Support in Police Stations
Our Domestic Violence Advocates are based at local police stations and offer an advocacy service, safety planning and case management with court support.
Domestic Violence Counselling
Starick’s counselling service can be accessed by women and children staying in a Starick refuge. Counselling is also available to women affected by FDV in the community.
GP Link
GP-Link is a partnership between Starick and Anglicare WA, delivered through the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) Primary Care Integration Pilot.
Children and Young People
Starick is committed to creating and maintaining a Child Safe organisation in accordance with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. We foster a culture, implement strategies, and take actions that promote the wellbeing of children and young people and protect them from harm
WA Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program
Starick is delivering the Western Australian Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program to primary and secondary public schools across Western Australia.
WA Respectful Relationships in Sport and Recreation Program (RRSRP)
Starick’s Respectful Relationships Sport and Recreation program recognises this enormous potential for sport and recreation organisations to inform positive cultural change.
Workwise Women
Workwise Women is a supportive volunteering program for women who have experienced family and domestic violence.
Workplace Awareness
Family and domestic violence (FDV) affects every aspect of an employee’s life, including work. Managers and team leaders play a critical role in creating a safe, supportive environment.
Make a Donation
Subscribe
Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter and receive up-to-date information about Starick’s services, programs, events and fundraisers.
You can opt out anytime.
Get Involved
All of Starick’s services and programs are made possible through our fundraising efforts, donations, and in-kind support from individuals, community organisations, and corporate partners.
