Communities and Justice

Domestic and Family Violence Commissioning 2026

Overview

Planning is underway to commission a number of domestic and family violence (DFV) programs with contracts expiring 30 June 2026. 

The DFV Commissioning process is being undertaken in close alignment with the Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) commissioning process. This coordinated approach ensures a smooth transition for providers and continuity of services for clients, recognising the interconnectedness of DFV and homelessness support systems.

Providers involved in both processes will be supported by their local DCJ Commissioning and Planning teams to ensure local planning discussions are coordinated.

For more information about the SHS commissioning process, please visit the Homes NSW webpage.

Which DFV programs are being commissioned?

  • Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV)
  • Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS)
  • Specialist Workers for Children and Young People (SWCYP).

Negotiations have now started for the SHLV commissioning. This SHLV DFV Commissioning 2026 factsheet (PDF, 243 KB) outlines the key points and scope for change during the commissioning process.

Negotiations for SWCYP and IDFVS will follow soon after. Further information and updates will be provided on this page.

What is the DFV Commissioning approach?

The commissioning approach for SWCYP and SHLV program contracts expiring 30 June 2026 will be via direct negotiation with existing providers to establish new 5-year contracts.

The direct negotiation approach recognises current providers as valued and trusted partners in delivering these domestic and family violence (DFV) programs and ensures no disruption to service continuity for women and their children accessing these services.

In line with the NSW Government commitment to supporting long term certainty for service providers and their staff, there will be no reduction in funding for providers under the new contracts (1 July 2026 – 30 June 2031), and indexation applied where applicable.

New SHLV and IDFVS services commissioned under the DFV emergency expansion are not subject to this arrangement as they have been contracted to 2031. Further information about the IDFVS commissioning approach will be updated once confirmed.

Time frames for commissioning

Providers will be invited to undertake Direct negotiations from November 2025 through to April 2026.  

Commencing the process early will ensure negotiations and contract executions can be finalised well before the contract end date providing certainty to services. The extended time frame is to build flexibility into the process as we recognise there are other commissioning processes and service delivery activities including 16 days of Activism taking place simultaneously.

This approach with flexibility and long lead times is in line with the principle of least disruption to services as possible.

More information about DFV commissioning

Previous webinars

  • 7 May 2025 DFV Commissioning webinar hosted by DVNSW: Information presented at the webinar can be found here (PDF, 317.9 KB).
  • 21 October 2025 webinar hosted by DCJ on the direct negotiation process for DFV services: slides and recording of the session can be found here: 

For FAQs on DFV Commissioning, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Please reach out to your DCJ contract manager or email [email protected] for queries relating to DFV Commissioning

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