Mandatory minimum qualifications
for specialist family violence practitioners

The MMQ Policy outlines the minimum qualifications people must hold to work in specialist family violence response roles in Victoria. This policy was designed to improve the status, recognition and professional standing of family violence work, while recognising the high level of skills already held in the workforce.

In 2024, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) evaluated the MMQ Policy and its implementation. The evaluation recommended a series of changes to the policy that were significant but consistent with its original intent.

Several changes have been made to the MMQ Policy following its 2024 evaluation. The most significant changes include:

• Removal of the Bachelor of Social Work or ‘equivalent’ as the minimum qualification and removal of the seven Equivalency Principles.
• Consolidation of the two ‘Working Towards’ pathways into a single and permanent employment pathway.
• Removal of the need to disclose or ‘quantify’ lived experience and/or cultural knowledge and expertise to access the ‘Working Towards’ pathway.
• Permanent exemption for practitioners in specialist family violence roles prior to July 2021.

Together, these changes make the MMQ Policy simpler to understand and apply. For those seeking to enter the family violence workforce, the updated policy provides greater clarity about the qualifications and pathways available to them. For employers, it offers greater flexibility in making hiring decisions.

More information

To view the policy requirements click and for further information, visit the Victorian Government website.