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What types of help are available in Australia?

There are a lot of different types of support for people who experience violence and abuse. These include:

  • Information and advice
  • Help with money and finances
  • Connection to services that help
  • Peer support
  • Help to stay safe.

The Safe Steps website (external link) and the 1800RESPECT website (external link) will listen to your story and connect you to services that can help. Start with one of these services if you don't know where to begin.

You can also find contact details for services on the Neve page Helpline directory (internal link). We have listed national contacts as well as contacts for each state and territory.

If you want support standing up for yourself, you can use the Disability Australia Hub website advocacy finder (external link). You can also use the advocacy finder service on the Disability Advocacy Network Australia website (external link).

It's normal to feel overwhelmed after violence or abuse. You deserve to be safe. You don't have to do it all yourself. Support is available to help you.

Services for people with disabilities

 

Safe Steps helps people with a disability who are experiencing family violence access the support they need to stay safe. Call Safe Steps 24/7 on 1800 015 188 or email safesteps@safesteps.org.au to get help. You can read more on the Safe Steps website (external link). 

 

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. It has a chat function to talk to a support person. 1800RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can access the chat function on the 1800RESPECT website (external link). To contact 1800RESPECT via SMS, text 'HELLO' or any greeting to 0458 737 732. 

 

Sunny is an app for people with disability who have experienced violence and abuse. Sunny has been co-designed with women with disability to ensure it provides the very best support for those who use it. You can read more about Sunny App on the 1800RESPECT website (external link).

 

Lifeline provides all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. They exist so that no person inAustralia has to face their darkest moments alone. You can access Lifeline via phone, online chat and crisis text or via the Lifeline website (external link).

Need a translator or interpreter? 

Translating and interpreting service (TIS National) 

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) can help you translate a phone call into a language other than English. Call TIS on 131 450.

National Relay Service (NRS)

If you can't hear well or need help making calls, call any number through the National Relay Service website (external link).

Financial support

Around Australia, people who experience violence and abuse can get financial help. It could be money to help you move out or pay for things you need to be safe.

Safer in the Home is a national program that helps women experiencing domestic violence. Learn how to apply on the Salvation Army website (external link).

Some states offer support packages for families experiencing violence. To find a service, put your state or territory and "domestic violence financial help" into a browser search engine, like Google. Or, call a helpline. They will be able to tell you about the options where you live.

Many people say they don't have enough money to leave a violent situation. With time and a good plan, you can get more money. Learn more on the Neve page Help managing your money (internal link).

National and state helplines

There are many national helplines for domestic and family violence. Many operate all day and night, every day of the week. You can call or text for:

  • Free and private help
  • Advice
  • Help making a safety plan
  • Information about services in your area.

For a list of helplines in Australia, visit the Neve page Helpline directory (internal link).

 

Online resources and apps

Many websites share information about domestic and family violence. You can learn about warning signs, safety planning, and legal rights. On this website, we share information about different types of violence and abuse. Learn more in the Neve section Violence and abuse (internal link).

A safety app is a tool that you can add to a smart phone or tablet to help keep you safe. We explain how safety apps work on the Neve page Safety apps (internal link).

Girls Gotta Know is a website for young women. It provides legal information on topics like relationships, housing and renting, and employment. The website works on a smartphone, computer, or tablet. It has information for every state and territory in Australia. Visit the Girls Gotta Know website (external link).

 

Local domestic violence shelters and support services

Many places have shelters and support services for people experiencing domestic and family violence. They can give you:

  • A place to stay in an emergency
  • Counselling
  • Legal help
  • A chance to talk to other people like you.

You can get help that matches your needs. To find a domestic violence shelter or support service in your area, enter "domestic violence help" and your suburb into a browser search engine, like Google.

 

Legal aid and advocacy organisations

Legal help can be vital to escaping domestic and family violence. It can help you use the family court system. You can learn more about this on the Neve page Family court (internal link).

Legal help can assist with protection orders. You can learn more about this on the Neve page Protection orders (internal link).

Legal help can assist you in the child protection system. You can learn more about this on the Neve page Child protection (internal link).

Learn more about legal aid on the National Legal Aid website (external link).

Advocacy groups raise awareness. They challenge unfair ideas and actions like:

  • Sexism  
  • Discrimination against people with disabilities.

Advocacy groups ask governments to change the law to protect people who have experienced violence and abuse. Women with Disabilities Australia is a advocacy organisation. You can read about us on the Women With Disabilities website About page (external link).

 

Counselling and therapy

It can be hard to recover from violence and abuse on your own. Counselling and therapy can help you heal. Many places offer free or low-cost counselling services. You can learn about counselling and therapy options on the Neve page Counselling and therapy (internal link).

 

Community organisations 

Community organisations support people who have experienced violence and abuse. They can give you:

  • Kindness and understanding
  • The message that violence is not okay
  • A place to belong
  • Help and support.

No one should face domestic and family violence alone. Please, get help if you need it.

1800 RESPECT

If you experience violence or abuse you can contact 1800 RESPECT for support and counselling.
Call 1800 737 732 or go to the 1800 RESPECT website to chat with someone online (external link).

‍To contact 1800RESPECT via SMS, text ‘HELLO’ or any greeting to 0458 737 732 to start the conversation.

Becoming safer

This section aims to help you see more clearly the difficult parts of life, including any violence and abuse you may experience. It shares tools to increase your safety inside a relationship that is violent or abusive. It talks about making plans for a safer future. It considers how disability, sexuality and gender diversity can impact experiences of violence.

Find out more

Protection orders

Legal protection from domestic and family violence and abuse is available through the courts in each Australian state and territory. Depending on where you live, there are different names for these court orders, but all protection orders are enforceable nationwide. Here, you can learn more about protection orders. You can learn how to apply for one and what it does and doesn't do.

Find out more

Resources.

May 4, 2024

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Participate Australia

Making Money Easy

A tool to support children, teens and adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability to learn basic counting and money handling skills.

Check resource

May 7, 2024

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Disability Advocacy Network Australia

Find an Advocate

Tools and information to help you find advocacy services in your state or territory.

Check resource

May 4, 2024

|

Disability Australia Hub

Self-advocacy

Self-advocacy is when someone with disability speaks up and represents themselves. This guide shows you how.

Check resource

May 7, 2024

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Touching Base

Booklets For People With Disability

Resources and information for people with disability about seeing a sex worker.

Check resource

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Getting help to be safe from violence and abuse

There are different kinds of help to keep you safe. You might need somewhere safe to stay or money to change the locks on your house. You might want to talk to a kind and caring person. Whatever you need, support is available when you've experienced violence or abuse. Some services focus on helping people with disabilities. Here, we share resources to help you build a safer, healthier life.

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