Find help for domestic violence
If you are ever in immediate danger, call the police on 000 |
You don't have to live with abuse. Support is available.
The Salvation Army has a range of services that can help you find safety and support. Whether it’s psychological, emotional, physical, sexual, verbal, social or financial abuse you’re confronted with, we can talk through your options and work out a course of action.
You can reach out at any time. We offer support, strategies for keeping the family together and help finding the services you need. If you are considering leaving your home, we can help with crisis accommodation. If you and / or your children, or someone you know, is safe right now, but need help, please contact the following service in your state. These services can provide the advice, support and referrals you need to find safety.
If you are not sure which service to contact please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). If you are unable to make a voice call please contact www.1800respect.org.au to use the web-chat service.
Choose your state based on your location
VIC
Safe Steps
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre is Victoria’s statewide first response service for women, young people and children experiencing family violence.
Hours of operation - 24/7
Phone - 1800 015 188
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.
Hours of operation - 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
Find a service near you:
Safer in the Home
Safer in the Home is a National program (based in Melbourne) delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. The program is designed to support women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their homes of choice, providing support through the funding basic security upgrades for low risk women and families.
Call 1300 157 102
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
NSW
Domestic Violence Line
When you call the Domestic Violence Line, the call will be answered by a trained female counsellor who is sensitive to the needs of women who have experienced domestic and family violence. You can ring as often as you need to at any time, day or night.
Hours of operation - 24/7
Phone - 1800 65 64 63
Domestic Violence Line website
Safer in the Home
Safer in the Home is a National program (based in Melbourne) delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. The program is designed to support women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their homes of choice, providing support through the funding basic security upgrades for low risk women and families.
Call 1300 157 102
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
QLD
DVConnect
DVConnect provides state-wide domestic, family and sexual violence crisis counselling, intervention, information and pathways to safety (emergency housing and refuge).
Your call will be answered by an experienced domestic violence crisis counsellor. They will ask you a series of questions to understand your situation. They will then provide you with the options available to you so you can decide your next step.
Hours of operation: 24/7
Phone: 1800 811 811
Safer in the Home
Safer in the Home is a National program (based in Melbourne) delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. The program is designed to support women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their homes of choice, providing support through the funding basic security upgrades for low risk women and families.
Call 1300 157 102
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
NT
There is no National Helpline in the Northern Territory – please call the service closest to you:
Alice Springs
Alice Springs Women’s Shelter – Phone: 08 8952 6075
Central family violence counsellor – Phone: 08 8952 6075
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress – Phone: 08 8951 4444
NPY Women’s Council domestic violence service – Phone: 1800 180 840 or 08 8958 2374
Women’s information service – Phone: 08 8951 5174
Darwin
Dawn House Phone – 08 8945 1388
Darwin Aboriginal and Indigenous Women’s Shelter Phone – 08 8945 2284
Catherine Booth House (Salvation Army) – Phone: 08 8981 5928
Larrakia Nation – Phone: 1800 101 645
Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) – Phone: 08 8932 9155
Katherine
Wurli Wurlingang Health Service – Phone: 08 8972 9100
Katherine Women’s Crisis Centre – Phone: 08 8972 1332
Katherine domestic and family violence counsellor – Phone: 08 8971 0777
Nhulunbuy
Crisis Accommodation Gove – 08 8987 1166
Anglicare Nhulunbuy – 08 8987 3022
Tennant Creek
Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge – Phone: 08 8962 1940
Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation – Phone: 08 8962 2615
Piliyintinji-Ki Stronger Families Women's Centre – Phone: 08 8962 2074
Barkly Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Group – Phone: 08 8962 1136
CatholicCare – Phone: 08 8962 3065
Safer in the Home
Safer in the Home is a National program (based in Melbourne) delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. The program is designed to support women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their homes of choice, providing support through the funding basic security upgrades for low risk women and families.
Call 1300 157 102
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
WA
Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline
The Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline provides support and counselling for women experiencing family and domestic violence. This includes phone counselling, information and advice, referral to local support services, contact with police if needed and support in escaping situations of family and domestic violence. The service can also refer women to safe accommodation.
A telephone based interpreting service is available if needed.
Hours of operation – 24/7
Phone – 07 9223 1188 or 1800 007 339
Women's Domestic Violence Helpline website
Safer in the Home
Safer in the Home is a National program (based in Melbourne) delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. The program is designed to support women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their homes of choice, providing support through the funding basic security upgrades for low risk women and families.
Call 1300 157 102
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
TAS
Family Violence Response and Referral Line
This line offers an information and referral service where callers are able to access counselling, information and other support services.
Hours of operation – 24/7
Phone – 1800 633 937
Tasmania Family Violence Counselling and Support Service
Services are available to anyone, including children and young people, who need support or information because their partner, ex-partner or family member is or has been violent or abusive to them. People can self-refer, or be referred by another person or service.
Hours of operation – 9am to midnight Monday-Friday. 4pm to midnight Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
Phone – 1800 608 122
Safer in the Home
Safer in the Home is a National program (based in Melbourne) delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. The program is designed to support women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their homes of choice, providing support through the funding basic security upgrades for low risk women and families.
Call 1300 157 102
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
ACT
Domestic Violence Crisis Service
The crisis intervention service provides telephone support, attendance with police at family and domestic violence incidents, access to safe emergency accommodation, safety planning and referrals to support services.
Someone specially trained in crisis intervention and support will answer the call. They do not pressure people to leave, call the police or involve the courts.
Hours of operation – 24/7
Contact – (02) 6280 0900
Safer in the Home
Safer in the Home is a National program (based in Melbourne) delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. The program is designed to support women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their homes of choice, providing support through the funding basic security upgrades for low risk women and families.
Call 1300 157 102
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
SA
Domestic Violence Crisis Line
The Domestic Violence Crisis Line is a state-wide service offering assistance to women experiencing domestic violence in South Australia by providing information, counselling and safe accommodation options.
Hours of operation – 24/7
Phone – 1800 800 098
Safer in the Home
Safer in the Home is a National program (based in Melbourne) delivered by The Salvation Army and supported by the federal government. The program is designed to support women and children experiencing family violence to stay safely in their family homes or their homes of choice, providing support through the funding basic security upgrades for low risk women and families.
Call 1300 157 102
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
Safety plan
It is helpful to have a safety plan in place to protect yourself and your children while you are experiencing family violence. These actions can help you as you plan your next step:
- Report every instance of violence and abuse to the police
- Have a mobile phone with you at all times in case you need to call 000
- Ask neighbours to call the police on 000 if they hear fighting, shouting or noises that sound like violence
- Keep the numbers of your local police station, taxi service, any emergency accommodation and domestic violence service providers in your mobile or wallet
- Keep records of any contact with your current or former partner, including saving abusive text messages, voice mail messages, emails, and social media posts or messages, and report them to the police
- Keep in touch with your support worker (if you have one)
- Install the free Daisy app on your mobile phone (if it is safe to do so)
- Clear the online search history on your computer, device and on social media and try to use a computer or device outside of the home, such as friend’s phone or computer at a library
- If possible, have a spare mobile phone with prepaid credit on it
- Have a list of places you can go where you feel safe
- Locate accommodation that will take pets or find carers for your pets, you can find these through the state-wide services listed above
- Do a practice run if possible
- Have an emergency bag packed for when you feel unsafe or things get out of control
Emergency bag checklist
- Cash, debit and credit cards
- Bank account details
- Medicare card, medical records, prescriptions
- Your’s and your children's ID, such as driver's licence, birth certificates, passports
- Lease or rental agreement, or mortgage papers
- Centrelink info, tax file number
- Legal papers, such as residency documents
- Copies of Domestic or Family Violence Orders (ADVO)
- Clothing for you and your children
- Recent photo of your ex-partner
- Spare key to your house and car
- Personal items such as your jewellery or the kids' toys
1800RESPECT have created a helpful downloadable checklist to help.
Staying safe in your home
The National Safer in the Home (SITH) program is a family violence support program funded by the Commonwealth Government and delivered by The Salvation Army.
The program aims to assist women and children experiencing family violence to stay safe in their family home or home of choice. The program recognises that it should ALWAYS be a woman’s right to remain in her home and not to uproot her and her children’s lives due to family violence.
In partnership with Protective Group, the National Safer in the Home program provides victim-survivors with a comprehensive personal and property safety assessment, basic security upgrades and technology assistance where required. The service is confidential, free and sensitive to the needs of women from all cultural backgrounds and communities. Safer in the Home can provide – to women who are not connected to a family violence service – risk assessment, safety planning, and targeted case management complemented by referral and advocacy support.
The program may also be a more appropriate choice for:
- Aboriginal women who want to stay connected to their family, community and remain on country
- Women living in remote and rural communities where they experience limited access to specialist family violence services
- Women with disabilities whose houses have been upgraded to meet their specific needs
- Women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds wishing to stay connected to and supported by their community
For more information on the Safer in the Home program and/or referral:
Case Study: Help and hope is available
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Kate* and her two young children came to The Salvation Army Family Violence Services (FVS) after experiencing significant family violence perpetrated by her ex-husband and his family. Kate spoke very little English and did not know where to turn for support. When she presented at the service she and her two young children were homeless after fleeing the family home. They were fearful for their lives and had no money and no belongings. In the days that followed, FVS was able to find emergency accommodation for the family, support Kate to link in with Centrelink to access financial assistance and provide clothing, toys, toiletries and food to the family. Over the next few months, FVS supported Kate to obtain long-term safe housing, link the family with health services and legal support and the children in with schooling and childcare. At the end of the support period the family was thriving. They were living in safe and stable accommodation, while the children were attending school and child care. Kate was able to secure a job, which gave her a steady income and they were beginning to recover from the impact of the violence they had experienced. *name changed for privacy |