My family is separating — what now?
- Emotional support
-
Family violence support
- Are your children at risk?
- Child abuse
- Family violence orders
- Handing over children where there's potential for conflict or violence
- Planning ahead
- Support for children
- Support for me
- What the police can do
- What to do if you or your children are in danger
- What happens if you leave the family home
- What to do if you suspect child abuse
- Financial support
- Legal support
Support For Me
You are not alone – there are support services that will assist you to make a safety plan and advise you on how to leave a situation involving family violence or child abuse. They can also help with accommodation, referral services, legal assistance, emotional and financial support, and can recommend emergency care to families escaping violence and help you and your children find somewhere safe to live.
Crisis and help line telephone numbers and links
- EMERGENCY — Police or ambulance call 000
- The National Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 200 526 is available 24 hours a day.
- The Domestic Violence Resource Centre assists people in Victoria who have experienced abuse.
- The Family Relationship Advice Line helps people affected by relationship or separation issues. It provides confidential information on family relationship issues and advice on parenting arrangements after separation.
- Lifeline is a confidential and anonymous national counselling service that also offers an extensive referral service.
- Lifeline Service finder can also put you in touch with services in your local area.
- Office for Women provides specific contact details on services available in each state and territory within Australia.
- If you do not speak English well and you want to speak to a counsellor, call the Translating and Interpreting Service and ask them to contact the 24–hour Confidential Helpline for you.
- Relationships Australia offers support groups and counselling on relationships, and for abusive and abused partners.
- Council of Single Mothers and their Children (CSMC) is a community organisation run for and by single mothers and their children in Victoria. They provide telephone support and counselling, referral, advice and emergency relief to single mothers throughout Victoria.
- Dads in distress is a dedicated support group of men in Australia.
- Immigrant Women’s Health Service is a team of bi-lingual and bi-cultural workers who can help, support and advocate for migrant women from different communities.
- Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association is for migrant and refugee women who are victims of violence and offers counselling by bilingual workers.
- The Indigenous health section of the Victorian Department of Human Services’ website contains useful links for Indigenous women looking for culturally appropriate healthcare and advice.
- Mensline Australia is a dedicated service for men with relationship and family concerns. It provides assistance to men who are victims of domestic violence.
- Salvo Care Line 1300 363 622 provides counselling and secure accommodation for women and women with children in a number of confidential locations throughout Australia.
- The Men’s Referral Service is a free, confidential and anonymous telephone counselling and referral service primarily for men who are seeking information about changing their behaviour, especially their use of violence or abuse in the home. The service also takes calls from women experiencing violence and from agencies seeking to learn more about how to encourage male users of violence to get the help they need to change.
Relationship services
- Family Relationship Advice Line
- Family Relationships Online
- beyondblue: the national depression initiative
- Lifeline
Resources
- Government assistance for financial support
- Hints and tips for