| Term | Meaning |
| Affidavit | A sworn, written statement made under oath or on affirmation before an authorised witness that can be presented in court as evidence. |
| Applicant | A person applying for an Intervention Order. |
| Domestic Abuse | Abuse committed against a person in, or formerly in, a domestic relationship such as a spouse, partner, child or family member. |
| Parties | Parties to the proceeding include the applicant, protected person(s), and respondent. |
| Protected Person | A person named in an Intervention Order application or an Intervention Order as a victim of alleged abuse. |
| Respondent | A person named in an Intervention Order application or an Intervention Order as being responsible for inflicting the alleged abuse. |
| Self-Represented | A party who elects to represent themselves in court proceedings. |
For a list of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence support services visit sa.gov.au
Free Legal Advice
- Legal Services Commission Help Line – 1300 366 424.
- Adelaide Legal Outreach Service – advice and assistance to draft documents provided by University of Adelaide law students under supervision – (08) 8313 7496
A current DVO issued prior to 25 November 2017 can become nationally recognised by applying to any Magistrates or local court in Australia at any time to have your DVO ‘declared’. This will ensure that you are protected nationwide. It does not have to be in the state or territory where your order was issued.
To apply to declare your DVO in South Australia, you must lodge a form: Form 46A, at a Magistrates Court.
If you are not intending to travel to or live in another state or territory, you may choose not to declare your order. You will remain protected in the state or territory where the domestic violence order was issued.
Intervention Orders Application – STOP the violence shows how to obtain an intervention order in South Australia.
*Please note the Quick Exit feature will not be available when you click to view the video as it takes you to ‘You Tube’.
It is a guide and does not cover all contingencies. However, by following the stories of Tracey, Carol and Tom viewers can see the steps taken by individuals, the police and the courts to better protect and empower victims of abuse.
The video is for anyone who wants to know about intervention orders.
Information about going to court and intervention programs is also available on the Courts Administration Authority website
The National Domestic Violence Orders Scheme began on 25 November 2017. All domestic violence orders (DVOs) issued from 25 November 2017 are automatically nationally recognised and enforceable in every state and territory in Australia.
Local courts across Australia can amend a nationally recognised DVO regardless of where it was issued.
Local police enforce the conditions of all DVOs issued in their state or territory, regardless of when they were issued. Existing state and territory laws protecting victims and affected family members from domestic violence have not changed.
In South Australia, DVOs are called ‘intervention orders’. In other states they may be called something different, for example, apprehended violence orders (AVO), restraining orders (RO) etc.
For an intervention order to be included in the National Domestic Violence Orders Scheme, the order must be issued to prohibit abuse between people in a relationship.
‘Relationship’ includes people who are married, in a domestic relationship, in some form of intimate personal relationship, family members, carers or related to one another, including related through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship rules.
No matter where you are in Australia, it is a criminal offence if you do not comply with the conditions of a domestic violence intervention order.