to hear that this has happened in your family. There is a Family Violence Provision for partner visas, that allow applicants and their families to continue with their application for permanent residence in the case that family violence has occurred. Take a look at Fact Sheet 38 . Here is how it works: Quote: Partner visa applicants If the applicant?s relationship breaks down after they have applied for permanent residence, and they can provide acceptable evidence under the Migration Regulations that they or their dependants have been the victim of family violence committed by their Australian partner, the applicant can still be considered for permanent residence. The applicant will also have to satisfy the delegate that their relationship was genuine and continuing until it ceased. Note: There are some variations within the Partner category visas in the eligibility to access the FVP. More information can be obtained from each state and territory office of the department. To proceed with this, your mother will have to present evidence. If your stepfather has been through court or has a conviction for his actions, this may be enough. If not, then your mother will have to write a statutory declaration outlining what happened and naming the person who did it, and also provide two statutory declarations completed by "competent people in two different professions" who also have to explain why they consider family violence has occurred and name the person who committed it. "Competent persons" here include doctors, nurses, social workers, child protection