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16 Feb 2026 Family violence & work
A practical guide to helping you recognise the signs of violence, respond with care, and connect a co-worker to the right support services.
Domestic, family or sexual violence is one of the hardest things a person can experience, causing fear, danger, and negative impacts to all areas of life. It can be really hard realising someone you work with is going through this, and it’s normal to feel unsure of what to do.
A kind and supportive colleague can make a huge difference in someone’s ability to seek safety and heal from violence. Often people respond in ways that are misguided or even harmful, so it is important to educate yourself on how to respond appropriately as a co-worker.
Recognise that it could be domestic, family or sexual violence. Become familiar with the many different forms of violence. Often people miss the signs of violence, especially if it’s non-physical abuse, such as emotional abuse, controlling behaviour or using technology to track or harass someone. It’s also important to remember that domestic, family or sexual violence doesn’t just come from a spouse – former partners, parents, children, siblings, grandparents or other family members can also perpetrate this violence. Educate yourself about the signs, and recognise if a co-worker might be experiencing violence, even if they don’t use the words domestic and family violence to describe what they’re going through. It’s okay to initiate a conversation with a co-worker about what you’ve noticed, privately and respectfully, to give them the chance to talk about it.
2) Respond
When someone chooses to tell you about their experiences of violence, it’s important that you believe them, take it seriously and take time to actively listen to what they have to say. There are many barriers to disclosing experiences of violence, including the fear that others will judge them, think it’s their fault or minimise their concerns.
Barriers to disclosing were reflected in some of the submissions to South Australia’s Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence:
If a colleague opens up to you about their experiences, you should thank them for sharing, validate their feelings, and remind them that the abuse is not their fault.
Avoid projecting your own experiences, emotions or advice. Do not ask them why they haven’t left the relationship. Don’t ask for details about the violence. Instead, ask them how you can support them and help them become safer. Remember that any next steps must be their choice: only take actions with their consent. Don’t share details of their experience with others without their consent (unless required by law in a mandatory reporting role, or if someone is in immediate danger).
3) Refer
You should make sure your co-worker has information about services that can help them.
Here are some services you can refer them to:
Only call the police on 000 if someone is in immediate danger, or if the victim has asked you to.
Domestic and family violence Leave
All employees are entitled to at least 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave per year, to take time away from work to deal with family and domestic violence and its impacts. Make sure your co-worker knows they have this entitlement, and support them to request this leave if they would like to. They can also ask their employer to help them make a safety plan for work. If the workplace is not supportive, you could refer them to their union or the Working Women’s Centre for support.
Learning more
In can be difficult to know how to appropriately respond to domestic, family and sexual violence in a work context. We strongly recommend getting training to build your knowledge and skills to effectively respond. The Working Women’s Centre offers a 4-hour training workshop, When Violence Comes to Work, designed to equip workplaces to respond to disclosures in supportive and appropriate ways. To find out more and make an enquiry, visit our training page.
There are also online resources where you can learn more about domestic, family and sexual violence. The 1800RESPECT website is a great place to start. The government has provided some online workplace resources related to family and domestic violence and having conversations in the workplace.
Taking care of yourself
It is very distressing to hear about someone’s experiences of violence. There is support available if you are struggling with the situation or if it has impacted your own wellbeing. Depending on your workplace, you may have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), free and confidential counselling provided by your employer.
Some other services available include:
