This discussion paper reviews the research on mothering and fathering in the context of domestic violence. It finds that women are often held responsible for the effects of their partner’s domestic violence on their children, while the behaviour of the violent man as a father remains invisible.

Under the new family law system in Australia it is compulsory for separating parents to attempt family dispute resolution (FDR) prior to taking their parenting dispute to court. Although there is an exception for family violence cases, many women who have experienced such violence will undertake FDR either because the violence is not detected or...

Women and children who are subjected to family violence are vulnerable to homelessness. The traditional focus of social policy responses has been on supporting them to leave situations of family violence, through funding a network of emergency and transitional accommodation. More recently, there is increased policy interest in identifying strategies to assist victims of family...