This research project was undertaken over a four year period and included four stand alone but related studies; an analysis of the NS W department of Community Services responses to domestic violence including 'tracking' of a sample of referrals over an eighteen month period: the understanding of practitioners I in both statutory and non-statutory organisations, of the policy and practice issues related to the protection of children and young people who live with domestic violence; women's perceptions about living with domestic violence and the protection of their children, and the views of children and young people who have lived with domestic violence. This paper will present the key findings from each of the studies and outline the guidelines for good practice developed from the project