This policy sets out how the SA Housing Trust helps people affected by domestic abuse, also known as domestic and family violence.

In the interest of the victim’s safety and security, the SA Housing Trust also helps perpetrators of domestic abuse.

The SA Housing Trust may help people affected by domestic abuse by:

  • providing financial assistance into emergency accommodation
  • providing financial assistance into private rental accommodation
  • registering them for public, Aboriginal housing, or housing managed by the SA Housing Trust in an Aboriginal community
  • providing information, advocacy and referrals to services provided by other government and non-government agencies
  • writing off debt owed to the SA Housing Trust as a result of domestic abuse in line with the Account management policy.

The SA Housing Trust may help people living in SA Housing Trust properties by:

  • transferring them to another property
  • providing security items at the property, for example security doors, security screens, window locks.

What domestic abuse is

Domestic abuse is an act that results in, or is intended to result in, any of the below:

  • physical injury
  • emotional or psychological harm
  • denial of financial, social or personal autonomy
  • damage to property owned, used or enjoyed by the victim

Domestic abuse can happen between two people who are, or have been, in any of the below relationships:

  • domestic partners, or another form of intimate personal relationship where their lives are interrelated and their actions affect each other
  • a person and a child of any age, for example stepchild, grandchild, child under the person’s guardianship
  • a person and siblings, stepsiblings or other children who regularly stay or live with the person
  • people otherwise related to each other by blood, marriage, adoption or another form of domestic partnership
  • people who are related according to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander kinship rules, or are both members of another culturally recognised family group
  • a carer and the person they're caring for.

Verifying domestic abuse

The SA Housing Trust requires verification of domestic abuse when providing assistance. In urgent situations, verification can take place after providing assistance.

Verification can be verbal or in writing, including information from:

  • a relevant support agency
  • a third party, for example relatives, friends, neighbours
  • an intervention order
  • a Multi Agency Protection Service summary document
  • an assessment by the SA Housing Trust.

Security items

The SA Housing Trust provides and installs security items at a SA Housing Trust tenant’s property if they meet all the below conditions:

  • they are affected by domestic abuse
  • domestic abuse is verified
  • there’s a direct or imminent threat to the personal safety or well-being of the tenant or their children
  • the perpetrator isn’t living with the tenant
  • The SA Housing Trust determines the items are essential for the tenant and their household to live safely in the property
  • the relevant SA Housing Trust Regional Manager approves it.

Intervention orders

SA Housing Trust supports the conditions of intervention orders, including:

  • interim intervention orders issued by the police or a court
  • final intervention orders confirmed by a court

In an intervention order, the victim is the protected person and the perpetrator is the defendant.

Depending on the conditions of the intervention order, SA Housing Trust may:

  • separate a joint registration of interest so the defendant and the protected person have their own registrations
  • not allow the defendant to access a SA Housing Trust property
  • not provide financial assistance for both the defendant and protected person into the same private rental accommodation
  • not allow the defendant to end their SA Housing Trust tenancy while an interim intervention order is in place
  • require the defendant to stay away from or end their tenancy in a SA Housing Trust property
  • not approve a defendant's registration for transfer
  • transfer the defendant's tenancy to a protected person in line with the Tenancy succession policy under a court issued tenancy order.

The SA Housing Trust reports all known breaches of intervention orders to the police.

Working with other agencies

Family Safety Framework

The Family Safety Framework (external site) (external site) is a multi-agency response to high-risk cases of domestic abuse. The SA Housing Trust participates in Family Safety Meetings.

The SA Housing Trust undertakes a Domestic Violence Risk Assessment for people at risk of, or currently experiencing, domestic abuse. High-risk cases are referred to a Family Safety Meeting.

Multi Agency Protection Service

The Multi Agency Protection Service is a multi-agency partnership that shares information and responds to cases of domestic abuse.

The SA Housing Trust participates in the Multi Agency Protection Service and responds to actions and requests from the Multi Agency Protection Service.

Related information

Controlling documents

This policy is based on and complies with:

Supporting procedures

  • Domestic abuse procedures v13.1

Related policies and other documents

Date this policy applies from

3 August 2022

Version number

13

The online version of the policy is the approved and current version. There is no guarantee that any printed copies are current.