Domestic and Family Violence: A Practical Guide to Finding the Right Support
Updated: Sep 9
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services.
In Australia, call Triple Zero (000) for police, fire or ambulance. 112 can also be called from a mobile phone in Australia. In the United States and Canada, the emergency number is 911. In the United Kingdom, call 999 or 112. In European Union countries, 112 is the common emergency number.
If you are elsewhere, use the emergency number for the country you are currently in.
About this guide
Domestic and family violence (DFV) can involve much more than physical violence. It may include coercive or controlling behaviour, threats, intimidation, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual violence, financial abuse, stalking, technology-facilitated abuse and other behaviours that create fear, dependency or loss of autonomy.
The purpose of this page is not to reproduce the detailed guidance already available from specialist organisations, nor to provide legal advice.
Instead, it provides a conceptual model of the types of support and resources that may be useful when domestic or family violence is occurring or suspected.
Laws, terminology, protection orders, police practices, courts and support services differ considerably between countries — and often between states, territories or provinces within the same country. Any practical action should therefore be based on the circumstances of the individual and the services available in the relevant jurisdiction.
Think in terms of needs, not just services
When someone is affected by domestic or family violence, there is rarely a single service or intervention that addresses everything.
It can be more useful to think about the different needs that may exist.
1. Immediate safety
The first consideration is whether anyone is in immediate danger.
Depending on the circumstances, this may involve:
* emergency services;
* moving to a safer location;
* emergency accommodation;
* contacting a trusted person;
* protecting children or other vulnerable people; or
* obtaining specialist DFV assistance.
The appropriate response depends on the nature and immediacy of the risk.
2. Safety planning
A safety plan considers what someone might do if circumstances deteriorate or they need to leave quickly.
Depending on the situation, this might include:
* identifying safe places and trusted contacts;
* deciding how emergency services could be contacted;
* keeping important documents accessible;
* considering medication, money, keys and essential belongings;
* making arrangements for children or pets;
* considering transport and accommodation; and
* thinking about digital security, location sharing, passwords and access to devices.
A safety plan should reflect the person’s actual circumstances rather than simply being a generic checklist.
3. Legal information and assistance
Domestic and family violence laws vary significantly between jurisdictions.
Legal assistance may be needed to understand matters such as:
* protection or restraining orders;
* police and court processes;
* criminal allegations;
* family law and parenting arrangements;
* housing and tenancy;
* property and financial matters; and
* immigration or visa implications.
Specialist legal services, community legal centres and government-funded legal aid organisations can often provide information or assistance.
4. Emotional and psychological support
Domestic and family violence can have significant psychological and emotional consequences for people experiencing it, their children, other family members and sometimes the people supporting them.
Useful resources may include:
* specialist DFV counselling;
* crisis counselling;
* psychologists or other mental health professionals;
* sexual assault services;
* children’s services; and
* peer or survivor support.
Different people need different forms of support, and those needs may change over time.
5. Financial and practical independence
Financial control can itself be a form of abuse, and financial dependency can make it difficult for someone to change their circumstances.
Practical assistance may therefore include:
* access to independent banking;
* emergency financial assistance;
* income support;
* employment assistance;
* accommodation;
* transport;
* childcare;
* replacement identity documents; and
* independent financial or legal advice.
6. Accommodation and longer-term stability
Leaving an unsafe environment does not necessarily resolve the underlying risks.
Longer-term planning may need to consider:
* emergency and transitional accommodation;
* permanent housing;
* employment and income;
* children’s schooling;
* healthcare;
* legal proceedings;
* ongoing safety arrangements; and
* rebuilding social and community networks.
Friends, family and colleagues
People experiencing domestic or family violence frequently disclose what is happening to someone they trust before approaching a formal service.
Friends, relatives and colleagues do not need to become investigators, counsellors or risk managers.
They can, however:
* listen without immediately trying to solve everything;
* take concerns seriously;
* help the person identify appropriate professional services;
* assist with practical arrangements where appropriate; and
* contact emergency services where there is an immediate threat to life or safety.
The objective is to support informed choices while recognising that the person experiencing the situation will usually know more about their circumstances than anyone else.
A conceptual model, not a universal prescription
There is no single pathway through domestic and family violence.
Someone may need emergency intervention today and legal advice tomorrow. Another person may need months of planning before changing their circumstances. Someone else may primarily need information to understand whether behaviour they are experiencing is abusive or controlling.
That is why this page focuses on categories of need rather than prescribing a particular sequence of actions.
The important questions are:
What could cause harm? Who or what is at risk? What support is needed now? What might be needed next? And which services are appropriate in this jurisdiction?
Australian resources
The following is deliberately a high-level starting point rather than an exhaustive directory. Services, eligibility and contact arrangements change, so follow the links for current information.
Australia-wide
Emergency — Triple Zero (000)
For immediate threats to life or safety. In Australia, 112 can also be called from a mobile phone.
1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732
Australia’s national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Available 24/7 by telephone, text on 0458 737 732, online chat and video call.
1800RESPECT
Lifeline — 13 11 14
24/7 crisis support by telephone, with text and online chat also available.
Lifeline
MensLine Australia — 1300 78 99 78
Telephone and online counselling and support for men dealing with relationship and family issues.
MensLine Australia
The 1800RESPECT Service Directory can also be used to locate specialist services by area.
Australian Capital Territory
Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) — specialist crisis intervention, safety planning, support and information in the ACT.
Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Legal Aid ACT — legal information, advice and assistance, including family violence matters.
Legal Aid ACT
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre — specialist support relating to sexual violence.
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
New South Wales
NSW Domestic Violence Line — 1800 656 463 — 24/7 telephone counselling, information and referrals for women experiencing domestic and family violence.
Legal Aid NSW — legal advice and assistance concerning domestic violence, protection orders, family law and related matters.
Legal Aid NSW
Women’s Legal Service NSW — specialist legal assistance for women, including domestic and family violence matters.
Women’s Legal Service NSW
Victoria
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre — 1800 015 188 — Victoria’s specialist family violence response service.
Safe Steps
The Orange Door — local access to family violence and family wellbeing services throughout Victoria.
The Orange Door
Victoria Legal Aid — legal information and assistance relating to family violence and associated legal issues.
Victoria Legal Aid
Queensland
DVConnect Womensline — 1800 811 811 — 24/7 crisis support, safety planning, information and referral for women and children affected by domestic and family violence.
DVConnect
DVConnect Mensline — 1800 600 636 — support for men affected by domestic and family violence and men seeking assistance with their own behaviour.
DVConnect
Legal Aid Queensland — legal information and assistance concerning domestic and family violence and protection orders.
Legal Aid Queensland
South Australia
Domestic Violence Crisis Line — 1800 800 098 — crisis assistance, referrals, accommodation support and related services.
Women’s Safety Services SA — specialist domestic and family violence services and support.
Women’s Safety Services SA
Legal Services Commission of South Australia — legal information and assistance, including domestic, family and sexual violence matters.
Legal Services Commission of South Australia
Western Australia
Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline — 1800 007 339 — 24-hour support, information and referral, including assistance accessing safe accommodation.
Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline — 1800 000 599 — information and referral for male victim-survivors and men concerned about their use of violence.
Legal Aid WA — specialist family violence legal assistance and information.
Legal Aid WA
The WA Government also maintains a current directory of family and domestic violence services.
WA family and domestic violence services
Tasmania
Family Violence Counselling and Support Service — 1800 608 122 — specialist counselling, information, safety planning, referral and advocacy.
Safe at Home — Tasmania’s integrated family violence response, bringing together police, courts and specialist support services.
Safe at Home Tasmania
Tasmania Legal Aid — 1300 366 611 — legal information and specialist assistance for people affected by family violence.
Tasmania Legal Aid
Northern Territory
Dawn House — 08 8945 1388 — Darwin-based crisis accommodation and domestic violence support for women and children.
Dawn House
Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission — legal information and assistance, including domestic and family violence matters.
Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission
1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732 — national 24/7 service that can also assist people in the Northern Territory to identify appropriate local support.
1800RESPECT
Help us improve these resources
This page is intended to grow.
DFV Risk is developing practical guides, templates and risk management resources for people working with, affected by, or trying to better understand domestic and family violence.
If there is a guide, checklist, template or other resource you think would be useful, please let us know.
Equally, if an organisation has already produced an excellent resource that we should be linking to rather than reinventing, we would like to hear about it.
Our aim is not to duplicate good work. It is to make useful, evidence-informed resources easier to find and to identify gaps where practical tools are still needed.
We will continue adding and updating resources as this project develops.
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