Efficacy of Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave in Australia: A review of the effectiveness of paid family and domestic violence leave entitlement since its implementation as a National Employment Standard in Australia - Multi-stakeholder and lived experience perspectives.

This report examines the effectiveness of paid Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) leave in Australia following its introduction as a National Employment Standard in 2023. Using a multi-method qualitative approach, the study draws on 38 stakeholder interviews, an online survey of 70 workers affected by FDV, eight victim-survivor interviews, and document analysis. Although funded by the Western Australian Department of Communities, the research was conducted nationally and reflects experiences across diverse sectors, workplace sizes, and employment arrangements. Findings show that while paid FDV leave is a major policy achievement, its impact is limited by individual, organisational, and systemic barriers, including stigma, fear of disclosure, privacy concerns, inconsistent processes, and challenges for casual and precarious workers. Organisational culture and managerial capability strongly influence access. The report concludes that legislative reform alone is insufficient and calls for clearer processes, trauma-informed practice, proactive awareness efforts, and ongoing monitoring to ensure workplaces play an effective role in supporting victim-survivors.