Emergency, crisis and support services
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- After a flood – animal and insect related hazards
When returning to a flood-affected area, remember that wild animals, including rats, mice, snakes or spiders, may be trapped in your home, shed or garden.
- After a flood – returning home safely
When returning to your home after a flood, take precautions to reduce the possibility of injury, illness or disease.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is a life-saving skill that everyone should learn from an accredited organisation.
- Disaster relief for national and state emergencies
Information about disaster relief for national and state emergencies.
- Emergencies - coping without gas or electricity
In a gas or electricity blackout you may have to think laterally to come up with ways to continue bathing, eating and keeping warm.
- Emergencies - floods
You and your family should work out an emergency plan in case of flood.
- Community health services
Community health services are publicly funded and offer a range of health services to local residents.
- Counselling, online and phone support for mental illness
There are many free mental health hotlines and mental health online support services available across Victoria which provide crisis support, information, resources, counselling and therapy to people of all ages.
- Counsellors
Anyone who is struggling with a personal concern can seek help from a counsellor.
- Gambling
Various organisations can offer support, assistance and counselling for people who have gambling problems.
- Gambling - advice for family and friends
You may feel angry, hurt and betrayed when you discover that a family member or friend has a gambling problem.
- Grief
Grief is a process, not an event – most people will continue to grieve in subtle ways for the rest of their lives.
- Grief – support services
People who have support from family and friends are less likely to suffer poor health after bereavement and loss.
- Personal and relationship services
There are personal and relationship services available to you that offer counselling and relationship advice.
- After a flood – returning home safely
When returning to your home after a flood, take precautions to reduce the possibility of injury, illness or disease.
- Rugby codes - preventing injury
A high proportion of injuries associated with rugby occur during the tackle.
- Urban flash floods - FAQs
Urban flash flooding can happen quickly and without warning. Keep up-to-date with the latest warnings through the VicEmergency website or download the app.
- Gambling
Various organisations can offer support, assistance and counselling for people who have gambling problems.
- Gambling - advice for family and friends
You may feel angry, hurt and betrayed when you discover that a family member or friend has a gambling problem.
- Gambling - do you have a problem?
There are various warning signs that may indicate you are developing problem-gambling habits.
- Gambling - financial issues
If you have a gambling problem, a financial counsellor can advise you on how to manage your money and repay your debts.
- Gambling - how to regain control
The first step is to decide that you want to stop or control your gambling.
- Gambling - providing support
You cannot force someone to acknowledge that they have an issue with gambling, but you can encourage them to seek professional help.
- Internet addiction
Internet addiction refers to the compulsive need to spend a lot of time on the Internet, to the point where relationships, work and health suffer.
- Calling an ambulance
In a medical emergency, call triple zero (000) for assistance.
- Disaster relief for national and state emergencies
Information about disaster relief for national and state emergencies.
- Urban flash floods - FAQs
Urban flash flooding can happen quickly and without warning. Keep up-to-date with the latest warnings through the VicEmergency website or download the app.
- Who to call in a crisis
Immediate telephone assistance is available for all kinds of emergencies.
- Babies and safety
Most injuries to babies do not occur by chance - many are predictable and largely preventable.
- Baby furniture - safety tips
Even if your baby furniture meets every safety standard and recommendation, your child still needs close supervision.
- Child safety and injury prevention
By making a few practical changes to your home, you can dramatically reduce the risk of injury to your child.
- Emergency or crisis support for carers
An emergency care plan is a set of instructions about caring for someone in the event that you are not able to.
- Farm safety - crush injuries
Hand and finger injuries are the most common crush injuries that occur on Victorian farms.
- Farm safety - falls
Falls are a common farm hazard, especially for older farmers.
- Farm safety – children
Children who live on farms are at greater risk of injury and death than their parents or other farm workers.
- First aid basics and DRSABCD
Some knowledge of basic first aid can mean the difference between life and death.
- First aid kits
Your first aid kit should be organised, properly stocked and available at all times.
- After-hours healthcare options
For unexpected after-hours medical issues, there are telephone helplines, pharmacies, after-hours medical clinics or doctors who can visit you at home.
- Bites and stings – first aid
If you are bitten or stung by an insect or animal, apply first aid and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
- Bleeding
Bleeding may be minor or it may be a life-threatening medical emergency.
- Burns and scalds
Immediate first aid for all burns is to hold the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes.
- Burns and scalds - children
Most hot tap water scald injuries to children happen in the bathroom.
- Calling an ambulance
In a medical emergency, call triple zero (000) for assistance.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is a life-saving skill that everyone should learn from an accredited organisation.
- Choking
Don't slap a choking person on the back while they are upright - gravity may cause the object to slip further down their windpipe. Find out what to do when someone is choking.
- Drug overdose
Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs and some herbal remedies can all cause damage if an overdose is taken.
- Electric shock
Always disconnect the power supply before trying to help a victim of electric shock.
- How drugs affect your body
Drugs affect your body’s central nervous system. They affect how you think, feel and behave.
- Pill testing service
Pill testing helps people make safer choices by showing them what’s really in their drugs. Pill testing gives people a safe space to ask questions and get help without judgment.
- Shock
Shock is when there is not enough blood circulating in the body. It is a life-threatening medical emergency.
- Children and families at risk due to living circumstances
Certain children are at a higher risk of physical or emotional harm than others due to their living circumstances or home environment.
- Community health services
Community health services are publicly funded and offer a range of health services to local residents.
- Family conflict
It is normal to disagree with each other from time to time and occasional conflict is part of family life.
- Family violence explained
Perpetrators often make excuses for their violence, for example, blaming alcohol or stress.
- Gambling
Various organisations can offer support, assistance and counselling for people who have gambling problems.
- Gambling - advice for family and friends
You may feel angry, hurt and betrayed when you discover that a family member or friend has a gambling problem.
- Grief – support services
People who have support from family and friends are less likely to suffer poor health after bereavement and loss.
- Personal and relationship services
There are personal and relationship services available to you that offer counselling and relationship advice.
- Recognising when a child is at risk
Too many children are physically, sexually and emotionally abused and when this happens, it is up to adults to speak up.
- Rural issues - losing the farm
Losing the farm can be like losing a loved one for a farming family.
- Self-harm and self-injury
Self-harm and self-injury is when people hurt themselves on purpose, usually in response to intense emotional pain or negative feelings, thoughts or memories.
- Sexual abuse
If you suspect sexual abuse or have been told about it by a child, you must report it.
- Sexual abuse - helping your child
As a parent, you have an important role in helping your child recover from sexual abuse.
- Trauma and families
When a family is affected by trauma, everyone will react in a different way.
- Child abuse - reporting procedures
Any person who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a child needs protection can notify Child Protection.
- Medical treatment decision makers
You can appoint someone to be your medical power of attorney, also known as ‘enduring power of attorney (medical treatment)’, to make medical decisions on your behalf when, in certain circumstances, you can’t.
- Child abuse - reporting procedures
Any person who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a child needs protection can notify Child Protection.
- Child Protection Service
The Victorian Child Protection Service provides child-centred, family-focused services to protect children and young people who are at risk of significant harm.
- Elder abuse
Any act occurring within a relationship where there is an implication of trust, which results in harm to an older person. Abuse may be physical, sexual, financial, psychological and/or neglect.
- Mental illness and violence
People with a mental illness who are receiving effective treatment are no more violent than anyone else in the community.
- People with a disability who experience violence, abuse or neglect
People with a disability who experience violence, abuse or neglect can seek help from a range of services specifically designed to help them.
- Personal and relationship services
There are personal and relationship services available to you that offer counselling and relationship advice.
- Sexual abuse
If you suspect sexual abuse or have been told about it by a child, you must report it.
- Sexual abuse - helping your child
As a parent, you have an important role in helping your child recover from sexual abuse.
- Torture and trauma
Some survivors of torture and trauma live with their memories for years, or even for the rest of their lives.