By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.
Key points
- Two kinds: a family violence intervention order (family members, partners and ex-partners) and a personal safety intervention order (anyone else).
- Police can act on the spot with a family violence safety notice lasting up to 14 days, and can apply for an order even if you do not want one.
- How long: for the period the court sets, or, if none is set, until the court revokes it. Orders against under-18s are generally limited to 12 months.
- No criminal record from the order itself, but breaching it is a crime: up to 2 years' imprisonment or a $50,184 fine, and up to 5 years for breaches intended to cause harm or fear, or persistent breaches.
- Respondents: if you do not go to court, a final order can be made without you. You can consent without admitting the allegations, or contest it.
- Apply online for a family violence intervention order, for any Victorian court.
- For advice on applying for, responding to or changing an intervention order, call 1800 577 015 at any hour: free general legal information, and a 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in Victoria for a fixed $295.
In Victoria, an intervention order is a court order protecting a person from family violence (a family violence intervention order) or from someone outside the family (a personal safety intervention order); a final order lasts for the period the court sets or, if none is set, until the court revokes it. The order itself is not a criminal conviction, but breaching it is an offence with a maximum of 2 years' imprisonment, or 5 years for a breach intended to cause harm or fear.
Checked on 23 October 2026 against the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 and the Personal Safety Intervention Orders Act 2010.
If you are in danger now, call 000. Safe Steps (1800 015 188) and 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) answer at any time.
What is an intervention order?
Victoria calls its restraining orders intervention orders. Other states call similar orders apprehended violence orders or restraining orders. There are two kinds:
| Family violence intervention order (FVIO) | Personal safety intervention order (PSIO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Protects you from | A family member, partner or ex-partner | Someone who is not a family member, such as a neighbour, friend, colleague, employer, tenant, landlord, or a stranger |
| Behaviour covered | Physical, sexual, emotional or psychological and economic abuse, property damage, and children hearing, seeing or being around family violence | Assault, sexual assault, harassment, property damage, threats and stalking |
| Who applies | You (online or at court), or the police, who can apply even if you do not want them to | You, or the police |
| Maximum penalty for breaching it | 2 years' imprisonment or a $50,184 fine (240 penalty units), or both; 5 years or $125,460 (600 penalty units) for a breach intended to cause harm or fear, or persistent breaches | 2 years' imprisonment or a $50,184 fine (240 penalty units), or both |
Dollar amounts use the Victorian penalty unit of $209.10 for 2026-27. If you, or the person the order would be against, is under 18, the Children's Court of Victoria can give you information. A 14 to 18 year old needs the court's permission to apply for a personal safety order. For non-violent disputes, the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria offers mediation.
Safety notices, interim and final orders
- Family violence safety notice: police can issue one on the spot if someone needs protection straight away. It sets conditions and a court date, and can last up to 14 days.
- Interim order: a short-term order a magistrate can make to protect someone until all the evidence is heard.
- Final order: made if the respondent consents (including without admitting the allegations), does not come to court after being served, or after a contested hearing at which the magistrate is satisfied the respondent committed family violence, it is likely to happen again, and the protected person fears for their safety.
- Applying: you can apply for a family violence order online for any Victorian court, without going to court. A registrar contacts you about next steps, and police serve the application on the respondent. Fill in the court's pre-court information form at least 7 days before the hearing.
- Appeals: a party who disagrees with the decision can appeal to the County Court of Victoria.
How long an intervention order lasts
- As long as the court orders: the court can set the period for a final order. For family violence orders, the court must treat the protected person's safety as paramount and take into account the applicant's assessment of the level and length of the risk.
- No period stated: a final order stays in force until the court revokes it or it is set aside on appeal.
- Respondent under 18: the order must not be for more than 12 months unless there are exceptional circumstances.
- Extending, varying or revoking: a protected person can apply to extend (at least four weeks before it expires), vary or revoke an order, including online. A respondent needs the court's permission before applying to vary or revoke a family violence order.
If an application is made against you
- Not a conviction: an application or an intervention order does not give the respondent a criminal record. Breaking its conditions is a crime, and a conviction for breaching it does go on the record.
- Service: police give the respondent the documents and explain what the order means. If they cannot find the respondent, they can ask the court for permission to serve another way, such as by email or post.
- Go to court: if the respondent does not attend the hearing, the magistrate can still make a final order. A respondent can consent without admitting the allegations, or contest the application at a hearing with evidence and witnesses.
- Typical conditions: not to damage the protected person's property, follow or watch them, post about them online, contact them, or come within a certain distance; and to return property or hand in firearms and weapons.
- Think about the effects: get advice early if you disagree with the conditions, have children affected by the order or an existing parenting order, or run a business from a home you may have to leave.
Free help in Victoria
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Police, ambulance or fire in an emergency | 000 | Any time |
| Safe Steps (family violence response centre) | 1800 015 188 | Any time |
| 1800RESPECT (national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) | 1800 737 732 | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Victoria Legal Aid | 1300 792 387 | 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday |
How Go To Court Lawyers can help
Our free line, 1800 577 015, answers at any hour. Jen, our AI legal information assistant, gives general legal information and takes your details; Jen is not a lawyer and does not give advice about your case. A 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in Victoria is a fixed $295, by phone, video or in person where the lawyer offers it. The lawyer can advise whether to consent without admissions or contest an application, help you apply or change an order, and represent you on a breach charge. Requests are taken at any hour; how soon a lawyer can see you depends on who is available. Request a $295 consultation.
General information only, not legal advice. Updated 23 October 2026. Checked against the Magistrates' Court of Victoria's pages on family violence intervention orders, applying for an order (updated 27 July 2026), police applications and safety notices, responding to an order, changing an order (updated 26 March 2026), breaches, and personal safety intervention orders; the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic), version 070, sections 97 to 99, 123, 123A and 125A; and the Personal Safety Intervention Orders Act 2010 (Vic), version 036, sections 78, 79 and 100, on 23 October 2026.