Domestic Violence Orders in Brisbane and Across Queensland

What Is a Domestic Violence Order in Queensland?

A domestic violence order (DVO) is a civil order made by the Magistrates Court. It sets rules a person (called the respondent) must follow to protect another person (called the aggrieved) from further harm.

In Queensland, domestic violence order is the umbrella term. It covers a Protection Order, which is the final order the court makes once it has decided the application, and a Temporary Protection Order, which is the interim order made while the application is still on foot.

DVOs in Queensland are made under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld). The Act covers physical, emotional, psychological, financial and coercive behaviour, not just physical violence. You do not need to have been hit to qualify for protection.

From 26 May 2025, coercive control became a criminal offence in Queensland. This means a deliberate pattern of behaviour used to isolate, intimidate or control another person in a domestic relationship can be charged in its own right.



Australian Law Group has offices across Brisbane, including Toowong, Morningside, Wynnum and Stones Corner. We act for both aggrieved persons and respondents in domestic violence matters, though never for both parties in the same matter.

Who Can Apply for a DVO?

Anyone experiencing domestic violence can apply. So can a police officer, or a person the aggrieved has authorised in writing, such as a support worker or a family member. Applications are filed at any Magistrates Court, or online through the Queensland Courts portal.



The two people involved must be in a relevant relationship: current or former intimate partners, family members, or people connected by an informal care arrangement.

Temporary Protection Orders

If the situation is urgent, the court can issue a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) on the same day. Police can apply for a TPO on your behalf in high-risk situations. A TPO stays in place until the Magistrates Court makes a final decision on the application. A TPO is a domestic violence order, not a separate kind of order, and it can carry the same conditions as a final Protection Order.

Police Protection Directions and Police Protection Notices

Police have two further options, and neither of them begins with a court hearing.

From 1 January 2026, a police officer can issue a Police Protection Direction (PPD) on the spot. A PPD lasts 12 months. Police can issue one where they reasonably believe domestic violence has occurred, protection is necessary and desirable, and taking the matter to a Magistrates Court would not be more appropriate. A PPD can include the standard conditions and, depending on the circumstances, cool-down, no contact, ouster and return conditions.

A Police Protection Notice (PPN) works differently. It gives immediate protection and is treated as an application for a protection order, so the matter goes to court.



If you have been given a PPD, you can ask police to review it within 28 days, and you can apply to a Magistrates Court to review it at any time while it is in force. The direction stays in force while a review is on foot. Breaching a PPD is a criminal offence. Whether you are the aggrieved or the respondent, get advice early.

What Conditions Can an Order Contain?

Every DVO includes a standard condition: the respondent must be of good behaviour and must not commit domestic violence against anyone named in the order. The court can also add:

• A requirement to stay away from the aggrieved's home, workplace or the children's school.

• A ban on contact, including phone and online contact.

• A direction to leave a shared home, even if the home is in the respondent's name.

• Restrictions around named relatives or friends who are at risk.

How Long Does a DVO Last?

A Protection Order lasts five years by default. The court can set a shorter period only if it is satisfied there are reasons for doing so, and it must give those reasons. It can set a longer period where that is necessary to protect the aggrieved. Either party can later apply to vary, revoke or extend an order. A Temporary Protection Order runs until the court reaches a final decision.

What Happens at a Court Mention?

The first court appearance in a DVO matter is called a mention. It is a short hearing used to progress the matter. At the mention, the court confirms paperwork and asks the respondent whether they agree to the order or wish to contest it.

If the respondent agrees, the court can make the order on the spot. If they contest it, the court sets a hearing date where both sides present evidence. Most matters involve more than one court appearance before they are resolved.

Our family law team can guide you through every stage of this process. See our family law page for information on related parenting and property matters.

If You Have Been Served with a DVO

Being served with a DVO application is serious. Read the paperwork carefully. Attend every court date. A DVO is a civil order, so it does not appear on a standard criminal history check. However, the consequences are real: conditions may affect your housing, employment, weapons licences, and family law proceedings.

Importantly, breaching a DVO is a criminal offence. A first breach carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment. A second breach within five years carries a maximum of five years. If you have been charged with breaching a domestic violence order, or with another domestic violence offence such as coercive control, our criminal and traffic law team acts for people facing charges.

You have options. You can agree to the order without admitting the allegations, you can contest the application, or you can ask the court to change particular conditions. Which of those makes sense depends on your circumstances and on what the order would mean for your work, your housing and any family law matter, so get advice before your first court date.

Never contact the aggrieved to try to resolve the matter privately. Any contact that breaches the order's conditions can be used as evidence against you in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Speak to Australian Law Group Today

We have been helping Queensland families navigate difficult legal situations for over 20 years. Our Brisbane offices are at Toowong, Morningside, Wynnum and Stones Corner, with additional offices in New South Wales. Across that time we have combined the practices of Hogan and Company, Leith Sinclair and Co, Porter Hulett, Williams Lawyers, Bayside Law Practice, Heydons and Eliadis Lawyers to build a firm with real depth.

Call us on 1300 658 215 or contact us online. You can also find us on Google Maps.