What is family violence
Family violence includes
 physical harm
 sexual assault
 emotional and psychological abuse
 verbal abuse
 threats of violence to you or other people
 stalking
 controlling your money
 harming pets
 damaging your property and belongings
 any behaviour that causes you to live in fear
 isolation from family, friends and social networks
 threat to deport (for women without permanent residency)
 withholding / denying access to personal documents such as passport
 exposing your children to any of the behaviours listed above
 Threatening to remove your children from Australia
Under Victorian law, ‘Family Violence’ can be caused by any person you have an intimate personal
relationship with. This can include your partner or ex-partner, a family member or a person you regard as
being like a family member.
What can I do?
Safety planning
Make a safety plan in case you have to leave your home quickly. A family violence worker can assist you in
making a safety plan Things to consider include:
If you think that violence in the home is about to escalate or it has escalated:
 Leave the situation if possible
 Identify safe places in the home or away from the home to go
 Pack important items ready to take (such as personal documents, essential medication, money and
important telephone numbers etc)
Department of Human Services
 Leave copies of important documents with someone you trust
 Plan where you will go in advance
 Identify a neighbour you can tell about the violence and ask them to call the police if they hear a
disturbance coming from your house
 Have a safety plan for your children including where they can go if they feel unsafe and what to do in
case of an emergency
 Call the Police as soon as it is safe to report the incident
 If it is safe, call WDVCS (24/7) 1800 015 188
If you have separated from your partner
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change your mobile number and have it set on ‘private’. Use a different SIM card if you need to communicate
about children.
Keep a diary of abusive or frightening incidents. This can help if and when you decide to apply for an
Intervention Order
Try to change your routines regularly
Park your car in a safe and public place
If you see your partner or ex partner, get into a public or busy place as soon as possible, and
If you are working, talk to your employer about how they can assist to keep you safe at work.
Staying safe on the internet/social media
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Change or delete your Facebook account and your children’s accounts
Change your email account and make it harder to trace
Disable any GPS functions on your mobile phone or your children’s mobile phones, and
Use a public computer or a friend’s computer that your partner/ex partner cannot access.
Helping your children stay safe
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Help your children to know when there are warning signs of danger
Teach your children who they can call or go to in an emergency, how to call 000 and what to say (i.e. provide
address), and
Tell their schools or childcare centres about the violence including any special conditions for access to the
children on an Intervention Order.
Who can I contact?
Get help now - family violence
If you need help there are a number of telephone numbers you can call for free and confidential support. When you ring
these numbers ask for an interpreter if you need one.
Immediate danger
Police and Ambulance: 000
If you are or you know someone who is in immediate danger.
Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service (WDVCS)
Tel: 1800 015 188 (free call within Victoria)
24 hours, seven days a week.
WDVCS is a confidential telephone service that provides information, support and access to safe accommodation.
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inTouch – Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
Tel: 1800 755 988 (free call within Victoria)
Or 03 9413 6500
Hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Provides services, programs and responses to issues of family violence in culturally and linguistically diverse
communities.
Men's Referral Service
Tel: (03) 9428 2899 or 1800 065 973 (free call within Victoria)
Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm
The Men's Referral Service is an anonymous and confidential telephone service provided for men by men.
How can talking to a Family Violence Worker
help?
A family violence worker can provide free and confidential support about the following:
 Supporting you to make a safety plan
 Supporting you to get an Intervention Order
 Accessing medical care
 Counselling to talk about your feelings
 Finding safe accommodation and housing
 Supporting you to access legal services
 Court support
 Victims of Crime Application
 Assistance with your visa
 Anything else you may need to help keep you safe
 Accessing immediate support and funding if you or your children have a disability to remain in your home
or to access crisis accommodation
How can Police and Courts help?
Laws exist to protect you against family violence
Police
 can take out an urgent after hours safety notice
 can take out an intervention order for you
 can lay criminal charges
 can take reports about abuse that happened in the past
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Magistrates Court
 you can obtain an intervention order from the Magistrates Court to keep the violent person away from you
and your home
 you can ask for a CALD family violence outreach worker
 you can ask for an interpreter at court
The Family Court
 can make orders about safe arrangements for your children when there is a dispute
 you can ask for an interpreter at court
 Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT)
 may assist with urgent expenses and recovery
Lawyers
 Can explain your legal rights and assist you to access them
If you would like to receive this publication in another format, please contact the National Relay Service 13
36 77 if required.
This document is also available on the Internet at http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/children,-familiesand-young-people/family-violence
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
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