Family violence – get support or legal advice

Translating and interpreting service

Connection service for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment

Family violence services

Child protection

Sexual assault services

Legal advice

Mental health support services

Police contacts

Victims of crime


TRANSLATING AND INTERPRETING SERVICE
 
Phone: 13 14 50


CONNECTION SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR HAVE A SPEECH IMPAIRMENT 
 
Phone: 133 677 or 1300 555 272


FAMILY VIOLENCE SERVICES

The Orange Door – provides help and support for adults and children who have experienced family violence, as well to as families in need of support with the wellbeing and development of children.

You can contact or visit any Orange Door location. Contact can be made by phone, email or in person, and each location offers the same help and support. For a list of locations and contact details visit: Support near you | orangedoor.vic.gov.au


Berry Street – offers free specialist family violence services to victim survivors, including LGBTIQA+ people and children who have experienced any form of family violence.

Phone: 03 9429 9266

If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the free National Relay Service to phone Berry Street on 03 9450 4700.

If you or the person you are supporting doesn’t speak English, you can call Berry Street using the Translating Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Send an online enquiry.

Website: https://www.berrystreet.org.au/what-we-do/family-violence-services

Safe Steps Victoria – provides 24/7 specialist family violence support service. Safet Steps also runs the Disability and Family Violence Crisis Response Initiative (DFVCRI) to assist victim-survivors with a disability who are experiencing family violence to access the services and supports they need to stay safe, quickly.
 
Phone: 1800 015 188 (available 24/7)

Web Chat (available Mon-Fri, 9am – midnight)

Email: safesteps@safesteps.org.au
 
Website: https://www.safesteps.org.au/ 


Djirra –Provides legal support, counselling, social work, and  cultural, wellbeing and social activities for First Peoples women experiencing family violence in Victoria. 

Phone: 1800 105 303 (free call)
 
Website: https://djirra.org.au/who-we-are/


Rainbow Door – a free specialist LGBTQIA+ helpline providing information, support, and referrals. 

Phone: 1800 729 367
 
Text message: 0480 017 246
 
Email: support@rainbowdoor.org.au
 
Website: https://www.rainbowdoor.org.au/home

 
InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence – provides a state-wide specialist family violence service that works with women from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
 
Phone: 1800 755 988

Website: www.intouch.org.au

 
Dardi Munwurro – provides family violence, healing and behaviour change programs and services for First Peoples men and young people.
 
Website:  https://www.dardimunwurro.com.au/


Men’s Referral Service – provides free, confidential expert support for people at risk of using family violence. 

Men’s Referral Service

Phone: 1300 766 491 (8am to 9pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday) 


CHILD PROTECTION

To report children and young people whose safety is at risk.

Child Protection website (DFFH)

During business hours call (check the Child protection contacts page for the areas covered) 

West Division intake – rural and regional: 1800 075 599

After-hours call 13 12 78 (5pm to 9am, Monday to Friday, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays)


SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES ­ 
 
National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Helpline – provides confidential information, counselling and support service.
 
Phone: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
 
Interpreter: 13 14 50
 
Website: https://www.1800respect.org.au/ (includes 24-hour chat line)
 
Sexual Assault Crisis Line – provides state-wide after-hours confidential telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault.
 
Crisis Line: 1800 806 2929 (free call)

Website: www.sacl.com.au
 
Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA) – provide support and intervention to women, children and men who have experienced sexual assault.
 
Website: www.casa.org.au

List of CASA contact details: https://www.casa.org.au/contact-us/


LEGAL ADVICE
 
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) – provides free legal advice and representation for victim-survivors as well as perpetrators of family violence.
 
Phone:  1300 792 387 (8am – 5pm weekdays)
 
Website: https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/ (including legal help chat available on the website)

Youthlaw – a free statewide legal service for anyone aged 25 and under.

Youthlaw also provided legal information to adults working with or assisting young people, including parents and guardians. siblings, youth workers, etc.


Djirra’s Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service works with Aboriginal people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence. Djirra also assists non-Aboriginal people experiencing family violence who are parents of Aboriginal children.

Djirra helps by providing one-off legal advice as well as opening ongoing cases. Djirra works in the following areas of law:

  • Intervention Orders
  • Family Law
  • Child Protection
  • Victims of Crime Compensation.

Djirra does not provide support to perpetrators of family violence or sexual assault, but they can refer perpetrators to support services to assist them.

Phone: 1800 105 303

Email: Legal Services team: info.afvls@djirra.org.au

Website: https://djirra.org.au/

Women’s Legal Service – provides women experiencing relationship breakdown and family violence with free legal support, advice, and representation as well as providing financial counselling and social work services.

Phone: 03 8622 0600

Toll Free: 1800 133 302

Email: admin@womenslegal.org.au

Website: https://www.womenslegal.org.au/legal-services/


Contact your local Community Legal Centre which can be found on the Federation of Community Legal Centres website: Find a Community Legal Centre


MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES
 
Kids Helpline– provides private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

Lifeline – provides 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention across Australia.
 
Phone: 13 11 14
 
Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au/
 
Beyond Blue – provides telephone and online mental health support service.
 
Phone: 1300 224 636
 
Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ (includes chat function)
 
Suicide Callback Service – provides a nationwide 24/7 telephone and online counselling service to people affected by suicide.
 
Phone: 1300 659 467
 
Website: https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/


POLICE CONTACTS
 
Phone: 000
 
Police assistance where no immediate danger
 
Phone: 131 444


VICTIMS OF CRIME
 
Victims of Crime Helpline – a Victorian Government service offering free information and support for people affected by crime.
 
Phone: 1800 819 817
 
Text: 0427 767 891
 
Website: https://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/
 
Victims of Crime Commissioner – promotes the recognition, inclusion and participation of victims of crime in the justice system. If you’ve become a victim of crime and you feel you have been mistreated by policy or a prosecution or victims’ service, make an enquiry.
 
Phone: 1800 010 017
 
Email: enquiries@vocc.vic.gov.au
 
Website: https://www.victimsofcrimecommissioner.vic.gov.au/

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