Family violence services

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What is family violence?

Family (or domestic) violence is a crime, and everyone has the right to be safe in their family relationships.

Family violence is any threatening, coercive, dominating or abusive behaviour that occurs between people in a family, domestic or intimate relationship, or former intimate relationship, that causes the person experiencing the behaviour to feel fear. It includes emotional, psychological, physical, sexual and financial abuse, and has an enormous impact on the physical and mental health of victim-survivors, with the effects felt for many years.

In Australia, approximately one in 6 women and one in 17 men have experienced violence by a current or former partner since the age of 15 (ABS, 2017). While family violence is most commonly used by men against their current or former partners, family violence can also occur:

• in intimate relationships between people of all genders
• in parent or step-parent to child relationships (noting that family violence is a form of child abuse)
• when carers, who may or may not be family members, abuse people with disability
• when older children and young people abuse their parents, siblings or other family members
• when adult children abuse their parents
• when family members or carers abuse older people (also known as elder abuse)
• in kinship or ’family of choice’ relationships.

Family violence is a complex issue and people experiencing it need individual support and access to support services. A range of services are available in Victoria to help people make changes and choices for the future.

Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre

Safe Steps is Victoria’s state-wide telephone and online specialist support service for anyone who is experiencing or afraid of family violence. The service provides 24/7 confidential information, counselling, safety planning, and crisis accommodation. This is the best first point of contact for someone in crisis in Victoria who wants to leave a violent relationship or family situation.

The service can act quickly in urgent situations and can provide transport for people without a car or money.

Service hours: 24 hours, 7 days
Tel. 1800 015 188 (free call 24 hours, 7 days) – keep trying if busy
Email: safesteps@safesteps.org.au (available 24 hours, 7 days)
Website: Safe Steps
Chat online: 9 am to 12 midnight (Monday to Friday)

1800RESPECT: National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service

1800RESPECT is Australia's national telephone and online counselling service for sexual assault, domestic or family violence. The service provides 24/7 confidential information, referrals, support and counselling for anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, family violence or sexual assault.

Service hours: 24 hours, 7 days
Tel. 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) (free call 24 hours, 7 days)
Website: 1800RESPECT
Chat online: 24 hours, 7 days

inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence

inTouch offers free and confidential support services to migrant and refugee women living in Victoria who are experiencing or have experienced family violence. Services are provided to clients in their first language. The service operates Monday to Friday.

Service hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday)
Tel. 1800 755 988 (free call) or (03) 9413 6500
Website: InTouch

Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women’s Service

Elizabeth Morgan House is an Aboriginal-led peak body for Aboriginal women and children in Victoria providing family violence services and advocacy. The service provides urgent crisis services and ongoing support to Aboriginal women, children and young people, including parents of Aboriginal children, as well as partners and ex-partners of Aboriginal people. Services are available to LGBTIQA+, non-binary, sistergirls, brotherboys and two spirit queer folk who identify as women or feel comfortable accessing a women’s service.

Service hours: 9 am to 5 pm (Monday to Thursday) and 9 am to 4 pm (Friday)
Tel: 1800 364 297 (free call) or (03) 9403 9400
Website: Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women’s Service

Djirra - Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria

Djirra provides legal advice, information, referral and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at immediate risk of, experiencing or recovering from family violence or sexual assault (women and men). The service also assists non-Aboriginal people who are parents/carers of Aboriginal children. Djirra provides telephone and face-to-face support across Victoria in metropolitan and regional areas.

Service hours: 9 am to 5 pm (Monday to Friday)
Tel. 1800 105 303 (free call) or (03) 9244 3333
Website: Djirra

Safe and Equal

Safe and Equal is the peak body that supports organisations and professionals working to end family violence in Victoria. Safe and Equal provides information, training, capability building and advocacy to specialist family violence services, and maintains a service directory.

Search Safe and Equal's directory of specialist family violence services in Victoria.

Safe and Equal does not provide direct support for people experiencing family violence.

The Orange Door

The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children. The Orange Door is open in 15 areas across Victoria. Each location provides access to women’s and children’s family violence services, child and family services, Aboriginal services, and services for men who use violence. A referral is not needed to access services in person or over the phone.

Service hours: 9 am to 5 pm (Monday to Friday) - closed public holidays.

Visit The Orange Door’s website to find a service near you.

Family violence outreach programs

Family violence outreach programs are located throughout Victoria to support women who are experiencing or escaping from family violence. They work with women to develop safety plans to enhance the safety of themselves and their children.

Support includes:

• information on options and resources
• referral to other services
• case management support
• counselling and financial counselling.

Referral to local outreach workers is via Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre.

WithRespect

WithRespect provides support for LGBTIQA+ people of all ages and their families experiencing difficulty in their relationships, including family violence.

Service hours: 9 am to 5 pm (Monday to Friday)
Tel: 1800LGBTIQ (1800 542 847) (free call)

Rainbow Door

Rainbow Door is a free specialist helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, BrotherBoys, SisterGirls), their friends and family. This includes support for people of all ages and identities who are experiencing relationship issues, family and intimate partner violence (including elder abuse) and sexual assault.

Service hours: 10 am to 5 pm (7 days)
Tel: 1800 729 367 (free call)
SMS: 0480 017 246
Email: support@rainbowdoor.org.au
Website: Rainbow Door

Refuges and shelters

Many organisations provide safe and secure refuges, shelters, or emergency accommodation for women and children escaping family violence. They assist women with emotional support, legal assistance, help with finding permanent housing and applying for appropriate benefits.

The location of some refuges is kept secret to protect the safety and security of women and children residents. For this reason, referral to refuges and shelters is via Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre.

Other emergency housing

Additional emergency housing is provided independently by various community and church-based organisations. This accommodation varies in the level of support provided, the length of stay allowed, and what is required of residents.

Where to get help

• In an emergency, if you, a child, or another person is in immediate danger, always call triple zero (000) for police or ambulance services
• National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line Tel. 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) (free call 24 hours, 7 days)
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre Tel. 1800 015 188 (free call 24 hours, 7 days) or (03) 9322 3555
• inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence Tel. 1800 755 988 (free call) or (03) 9413 6500
• Dijirra - Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Tel. 1800 105 303 (free call) or (03) 9244 3333
• The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children.