Frequently asked questions Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Commissioning 2026

The DFV Commissioning process aims to strengthen connections across the DFV service system to support integrated client responses across programs, including connections with early intervention and family responses.  Additionally, the objective is to provide stability and increased flexibility to the sector, to enable service continuity and to support services to do the work they do well.

For the Specialist Workers for Children and Young People (SWCYP) and Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) programs with contracts expiring 30 June 2026, DCJ will undertake direct negotiations with existing providers to establish new 5-year contracts (1 July 2026 – 30 June 2031).

This approach recognises current providers as valued and trusted partners and ensures no disruption to service continuity for women and children accessing these services.

Note: New SHLV services commissioned under the DFV emergency expansion are not subject to this arrangement, as they are contracted to 2031.

Our guiding principle is that the DFV sector is meeting and exceeding expectations, and we want to work with the sector as trusted partners to create the conditions needed to do the work.

Commissioning will primarily be led by engaging with existing providers in a new five-year funding agreement.

Insights from DFV program evaluations (including Specialist Workers for Children and Young People, Staying Home Leaving Violence, Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services) have helped shape program specifications and service improvements.

A review of the Domestic Violence Response Enhancement (DVRE) program is underway to better understand what the service models are delivering since inception in 2016, and whether changes need to be made to better support women and children experiencing DFV after-hours. 

The DFV Commissioning process for 2026 includes the below programs where contracts are ending in June 2026:

• Specialist Workers for Children & Young People (SWCYP)
• Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) [with exclusions below]
• Integrated Domestic & Family Violence Services (IDFVS) [with exclusions below].

The commissioning approach for SWCYP and SHLV programs will be via direct negotiation with existing providers.

The DVRE program will be commissioned alongside the Homelessness commissioning process as most services are attached to Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) contracts.

DFV programs and services out of scope for this DFV Commissioning process include: 

• The 14 new Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) services and 6 new integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services (IDFVS) that have been commissioned through the DFSV Emergency Package and will already be contracted to 2031.
• Service delivery contracts for new Core and Cluster women’s refuges, which will be recommissioned to 2031 through a contract extension where applicable. Further detail about the contract extension process will be provided separately. 

Homelessness contracts expiring 30 June 2026 will be commissioned at the same time as DFV Commissioning. We are working together within DCJ through your local Commissioning and Planning team for a smooth and coordinated process and local planning discussions.

Commissioning principles and key messages have been prepared together for the DFV and Homelessness Commissioning 2026 processes. Please refer to the Homelessness Commissioning FAQs for more information. 

There will be no reduction to funding allocated to the DFV sector and indexation will be applied where applicable.

DCJ is strongly committed to the continuing growth of the Aboriginal-led sector and supporting the leadership of Aboriginal people and communities within the sector.

The recent DFSV Emergency Package has enabled expansion of SHLV and IDFVS to include: 

• 2 new ACCO led SHLV providers
• Development of 4 ACCO led SHLV models. The first is in Bourke with the model of Staying in Community Leaving Violence. 3 others in areas of high needs will soon follow.
• 6 new IDFVS services in areas of high needs including 3 services with targeted procurement to ACCO led providers.

There may also be future opportunities to increase ACCOs delivering DFV programs where there is an identified local need and readiness, or through partnerships. 

Through this commissioning process, DCJ will implement a procurement approach to negotiate new contracts rather than extending existing contracts.

The direct negotiation process for SWCYP and SHLV programs will commence from November 2025 through to April 2026. 

The intention is to finalise negotiations well before the current contract end date, providing certainty and minimal disruption for services.  

DCJ will adopt the least disruptive procurement process where possible while meeting NSW Government requirements.

The approach aims to preserve existing collaborative relationships that are delivering positive outcomes to women and their children experiencing DFV.

The indicative scale of changes is ‘no’ or ‘minimal’ change required. 

• No change: 
  • We have what we need delivered in the right places with the right linkages.
  • Recently commissioned new services under the SHLV and IDFVS programs that are contracted to 2031.
  • Aboriginal co-designed programs to be contracted to 2031 to allow time for establishment.
• Minimal change:
  • New SHLV contracts will work to new service specifications.
  • SWCYP contracts work to new service specifications and report on minimum client targets.

Program-specific updates: SWCYP and SHLV programs

SWCYP Program Updates

• Contracts will be standalone (separate from SHS).
• Revised specifications will:
  • Focus on children and young people experiencing DFV.
  • Include minimal client targets (negotiable).
  • Allow work with children supported through other programs (e.g., SHLV).
• Consultations on the new specifications will commence in November 2025.

SHLV Program Updates

• Specifications updated to reflect new DFV policies and legislative reforms (e.g., coercive control offence).
• Draft SHLV specifications are available on the DCJ website.

The DFV Commissioning process aims to strengthen connections across the DFV service system to support integrated client responses across programs including connections with early intervention and family responses.  

The aim is to provide longer five-year contracts to embed service delivery, ensuring service stability during and after the commissioning process.

The NSW Government is committed to working with the community services sector over the coming years to realise the Roadmap’s vision and deliver meaningful outcomes for the community.

The SJFC Roadmap identifies priority areas that the Commissioning processes are aligned with: 

• Priority Area 1 – Long Term Funding Arrangements: Establish preferred funding terms of 5 years for key community services.
• Priority Area 2 – A Community Services Funding Framework: Develop a framework to guide how services are procured and managed and key principles for how the government and community services providers will work together.
• Priority Area 3 – A Community Services Jobs Compact: Develop a compact with the sector to enhance job security between community sector workers, sector organisations and the NSW Government. The compact will outline how community services will support workers to have permanent jobs.
• Priority Area 4 – A Community Services Prequalification Scheme: Streamline funding application processes to reduce duplication and administrative burden and create efficiencies for both government and service providers.

The programs in scope for DFV Commissioning sit within the DFV crisis response system, which provides vital emergency accommodation and / or support, helps retain stability factors for recovery and connects families with integrated service for long-term recovery outcomes.

The vision over the next five years contract period is to strengthen the crisis response system to better meet the needs of the whole family impacted by DFV.

The approach to DFV Commissioning and underpinning principles are aligned with the following reform plans and strategies: 

• Homelessness Commissioning
• National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032
• Working Together to Address Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence: NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Strategic Plan 2024-2027
• NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022-2027
• NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024-2028
• Whole of government DFSV Data Strategy
• 10-year DFV Workforce Development Strategy
• NSW Homelessness Strategy
• 10-Year Homes for NSW Plan. 

Timeline

Direct negotiations for SWCYP and SHLV programs will begin from November 2025 to April 2026. Contact your contract manager for more specific expected time frames for your area.

Direct negotiation webinar for services

DCJ hosted an information webinar on Tuesday 21 October 2025 on the direct negotiation process. Below are links to the webinar recording and slides presented.  

• webinar recording
• slides

Please refer to the DCJ website for updates on the DFV Commissioning and Homelessness Commissioning processes. This section will be updated as more details about the negotiation process and webinar recording become available.