Domestic and Family Violence

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"Family violence – also known as domestic violence or abuse – is any abusive behaviour that is used to control someone in a family, family-like or intimate relationship, and makes that person afraid for their safety and wellbeing or the safety of another person. If a child witnesses abusive behaviour or is exposed to the impacts of this, they are a victim of family violence in their own right."

Source: Safe & Equal - What is Family Violence?

Family violence can include behaviours such as:

emotional abuse
physical abuse
sexual abuse
social abuse
financial abuse
cultural abuse.

Coercive control is a defining feature of all family violence. It describes a pattern of behaviour where a perpetrator aims to control, manipulate or dominate the victim survivor, diminishing their sense of identity, removing access to support networks and restricting their ability to live autonomously.

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Services

Please note contacting the below services may be detailed in your browser history, call or text log. More information on how to increase your digital safety can be found here.

1800 Respect
National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. They provide confidential counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Counselling can be accessed via call, text, webchat or video chat
Call: 1800 737 732
Text: 0458 737 732
Website: www.1800respect.org.au

Berry Street
Berry Street provides free specialist family violence services to victim survivors, including LGBTIQA+ people and children, who have experienced any form of family violence
Phone: 9450 4700
Website: Berry Street - child & family services, family… | Berry Street

Child Protection
The Victorian Child Protection Service is specifically targeted to support those children and young people at risk of harm or where families are unable to protect them.

Phone: 1300 598 521 (Northern Division, available between 8:45am and 5pm Monday to Friday)
After Hours: 13 12 78
Website: Child protection - DFFH Services

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Dardi Munwurro - Brother to Brother
The Brother to Brother crisis line provides phone support for Aboriginal men who need someone to talk to about relationship issues, family violence, parenting, drug and alcohol issues or who are struggling to cope for other reasons.The line is staffed by Aboriginal men, including Elders, who have a lived experience in the issues that the line offers support for. It is available 24 hours, 7 days a week
Phone: 1800 435 799
Website: Brother to Brother Crisis Line - Dardi Munwurro

Djirra(formerly the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service)
Safety and wellbeing support for Aboriginal women experiencing family violence. Djirra will provide both telephone and face to face legal and non-legal support to Aboriginal people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.
Phone: 1800 105 303
Website: https://djirra.org.au/

Elizabeth Morgan House
Elizabeth Morgan house supports Aboriginal women and children with refuge accommodation, specialist family violence services, therapeutic support and also work with our women in the justice system to uphold and defend their rights to live a life free from violence. Elizabeth Morgan House have a 24/7 hotline to access support.
Phone: 9403 9400
24/7 Phone:1800 364 297
Website: Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women's Services Inc | Aboriginal Family Violence Service | Northcote VIC, Australia

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InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence

InTouch provides services, programs and responses to family violence in migrant and refugee communities. This service is available Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Phone: 1800 755 988
Website: Home - inTouch

MensLine Australia
MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime.
Phone: 1300 78 99 78
Website: Free help, referrals & counselling for men: MensLine Australia Free help, referrals & counselling for men: MensLine Australia

Queer Space
Queer Space provides counselling (including individual, relationship and family counselling), case management, individual advocacy and other support services to help you with a range of issues. Queerspace also provide family education, group support programs, and can help you access LGBTIQ+ friendly healthcare options and services. This service is available 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
Phone: 9663 6733
Website: Introducing queerspace - queerspace

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Rainbow Door
Rainbow Door offers a safe space to share your experience with a peer family violence support worker who gets what LGBTIQA+, polyamorous and SM relationships look like. Depending on your needs we can provide phone support, information, risk assessment, safety planning and referral. Support can be accessed between 10am and 5pm every day.
Phone: 1800 729 367
Text: 0480 017 246
Website: Rainbow Door

Safe Steps
Safe Steps provides immediate, life-saving support to all individuals experiencing family and domestic violence. Safe Steps is available all day every day via phone call, and available on webchat Monday to Friday, 9am to midnight.
Phone: 1800 015 188
Website: Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre - 24/7 support for Victorians

Sexual Assault Crisis Line
Supports, advocates and provides a crisis response for people who have experienced sexual violence.
Phone: 1800 806 292 (available 24/7)
Phone: 1800 577 011 (please call if you have experienced sexual violence in the last two weeks)

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The Orange Door
The Orange Door supports people who are experiencing or using family violence or who need support with the care and wellbeing of children and young people. This is a free service and operates during business hours (9am to 5pm) from Monday to Friday (closed public holidays). You do not need a referral or an appointment. You can attend in person or reach out by phone.
Address: 56 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg (please visit the website for other locations)
Phone: 1800 319 355
Email: nema@orangedoor.vic.gov.au
Website: The Orange Door | orangedoor.vic.gov.au

Yarning SafeNStrong
Yarning SafeNStrong is a free and confidential counselling service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Yarning SafeNStrong (YSNS) is available to people and families who need to have a yarn with someone about their wellbeing, 24 hours every day.

Phone: 1800 959 563
Website: Yarning SafeNStrong | VAHS

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