Family Violence – finding help and support

Reporting family violence to police

If you are in immediate danger, call 000 to seek police assistance.

If you are not in immediate danger, you can still report family violence to police in your state or territory by calling 131 444, or by attending a police station.

Family violence support

If you are experiencing family and domestic violence, you can get help and support. Visit the Family Violence Law Help website, which provides information about domestic and family violence and the law in Australia.

Legal assistance – Family Advocacy and Support Service

The Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS) is an integrated duty lawyer and social worker service available for families affected by family violence or abuse. FASS is run by Legal Aid and is free. FASS may be able to help you with preparing documentation, organising a referral to a service and helping with court proceedings. Visit their website to find the contact details of FASS in your state or territory.

Support and helplines

Victims of Crime Helpline – 1800 819 817
Support and assistance for people who have experiences violence in their family or relationship.

Sexual Assault Crisis Line – 1800 806 292
Support, advocacy and crisis response service for people who have experienced sexual violence.

The Orange Door
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.

Safe + Equal (Formerly Domestic Violence Victoria and DVRCV) – (03) 8346 5200
Specialist family violence support services for victims and survivors.

Domestic violence Resource Centre directory
A directory of various domestic violence resources.

Family violence statewide support services
A directory of state-wide family violence support services.

Support for Men

MensLine – 1300 789 978
24/7 telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns.

Support for Women

Safe steps Family Violence Response Centre – 1800 015 188
24/7 service for women and children who are victims of family violence.

Family relationships

Better Place Australia – 1800 639 523
Affordable family mediation and dispute resolution, individual, couples and child counselling, financial counselling, elder abuse prevention and support services and a range of parenting and learning programs.

Relationships Australia Victoria – (03) 8573 2222
Specialist family and relationship services.

Emergency accommodation

Women’s Housing Ltd – (03) 9412 6868
Low costs housing for women at risk of homelessness due to being forced to leave their home due to family violence.

Safe steps – 1800 015 188
Crisis accommodation services.

Crisis and Emergency Accommodation – 1800 825 955
After hours service for emergency and crisis accommodation.

Legal

Victoria Legal Aid – 1300 792 387
Assists Victorians with their legal problems.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

WRISC Family Violence Support – (03) 5333 3666
Services delivered with cultural understanding and a holistic focus and in partnership with the Aboriginal community and Aboriginal run services.

Djirra – 1800 105 303
Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service.

Yarning Safe’n’Strong – 1800 959 563
Support for people and families who need to have a yarn with someone about their wellbeing.

Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women’s Services – (03) 9403 9400
Secure refuge accommodation and specialist family violence services to Aboriginal women and their children. Includes support for parents of Aboriginal children, as well as partners and ex-partners of Aboriginal people.

Multicultural services (Culturally and linguistically diverse – CALD)

inTouch – 1800 755 988
A specialist family violence service that works with women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, their families and their communities in Victoria.

Foundation House: The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc – (03) 9389 8900
Health, wellbeing and human rights support for people from refugee backgrounds who have experienced torture or other traumatic events.

Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health – 1800 656 421 or (03) 9418 0999
A community-based, not-for-profit organisation providing migrant women living in Australia with information to support and promote their health and wellbeing.

LGBTIQ+ support services

Switchboard Victoria – Rainbow Door – 1800 729 367 or 0480 017 246 (Text only)
Free specialist LGBTIQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, BrotherBoys, SisterGirls) helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians.

Thorne Harbour Health – (03) 9865 6700
Support services including prevention education, treatment and care of PLHIV and counselling services.

With respect – 1800 542 847
Resources, tips and advice for LGBTIQ+ people on having and maintaining healthy relationships. Support for LGBTIQ+ people of all ages and their families experiencing difficulty in their relationships, including family violence.

Drummond street services – (03) 9663 6733
Support for families and individuals through connected and inclusive communities. Drives innovation and research into family support interventions.

Victims of Crime – 1800 819 817 or 0427 767 891 (Text only)
Free support to help manage the effects of crime, guidance through the legal process.

Trans Gender Victoria – (03) 9020 4642
Advocacy support services for trans and gender diverse people, their partners, families and friends.

Kara House Lesbian Domestic Violence Outreach Service – 1800 900 520
Specialist family violence support including safe and secure accommodation and outreach services to women and children escaping family violence.

EDVOS – (03) 9259 4200
Support services for all women, including women from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) communities, their children, pets and other animals, who are responding to any form of family violence.

People with disabilities support services

Safe steps Family Violence Response Centre – 1800 015 188
Help for women and children who are experiencing family violence.