In this concluding episode of Series Two of You Don’t Have to Put Up With It, Ms Carmella of DFV Lawyers reflects on the powerful client experiences shared throughout the series and the broader challenges people face when navigating domestic and family violence matters in Victoria.

Across the series, listeners heard from both applicants and a respondent about coercive control, manipulation, emotional abuse, intimidation, fear, isolation, system navigation and the lasting personal impact of family violence. These stories were confronting, deeply important and a reminder that family violence matters are complex, human and often misunderstood.

This final episode also examines a difficult but important issue: the misuse and weaponisation of intervention orders. Ms Carmella discusses how intervention orders are designed to protect people from violence, not to be used strategically in family law disputes, property disputes, visa disputes or as a tactic to remove a partner from the home.

The episode highlights that when intervention orders are deliberately misused, the harm extends beyond the individuals involved. It can become a form of systems abuse, undermining the purpose of the family violence framework and damaging community trust in protections designed for those genuinely at risk.

This is essential listening for professionals, advocates, community members and anyone seeking a more balanced understanding of family violence, intervention orders and the importance of using legal protections properly.

For more information, visit https://domesticfamilyviolencelawyers.au/carmella-acciarito/