Domestic and family violence support workers will soon be using a mobile app to assist clients with information about Queensland’s new domestic violence laws.

It will be launched on Friday November 23 by the Chief Magistrate of Queensland, His Honour Judge Brendan Butler AM SC at CQUniversity’s Brisbane Campus.

The app has been developed by CQUniversity’s Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (CDFVR) in partnership with the Queensland Government and a community-based reference group.  

“The app will enable domestic and family violence support workers to quickly access an explanation of each of the 214 provisions in the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, which commenced in September,” explained CDFVR Director Heather Nancarrow. 

“Often the workers have only a few minutes to assist clients with information about the legislation, particularly where the first contact with the client is at the court prior to lodging an application.

“The app includes a set of frequently asked questions, a search facility to enable quick access to specific sections of the Act, and a search facility for quick access to key terms, so information is literally at the workers’ fingertips,” she continued. 

The app is designed as a tool for appropriately qualified domestic and family violence support workers supporting clients with access to the provisions of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012.

“The app will eliminate the need for workers to carry a hard copy of the Act, manually search for specific provisions and then try to decipher, within a short period of time, the meaning and intent of the provision which would often require cross-referencing to other sections and even other legislation,” Ms Nancarrow said.

“Feedback received during a trial of the app indicates it will also be useful for police and magistrates by enabling them to quickly find relevant sections of the Act.

“One reviewer said having the app to double check information was invaluable and it was time saving for her workload,” Ms Nancarrow concluded.

The app will be available immediately following the launch on android and apple mobile phones, as well as tablets and desktop computers.