If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
If someone is violent or abusing and hurting you or your children, it is not your fault.
It is against the law for anyone to hurt you or any member of your family. Your family includes your spouse, partner, children, carer, parent or in-law.
It is against the law for children to be hit, see or hear violence in the home. They have the right, as adults do, to feel safe in their own home and not live in fear. Exposure to violence can cause long-term harm to children.
Family violence takes many forms and it occurs across all social groups in the community. While physical violence may be the most visible form, other forms of violence and abuse can be equally harmful. Women and children are most commonly the victims of family violence.
Types of family violence
- Controlling behaviours such as deciding who you can see or what you do.
- Stalking behaviours such as following you or monitoring your online activity.
- Verbal abuse such as put downs, threats and intimidation.
- Physical assault such as pushing, slapping, punching, choking.
- Sexual assault such as manipulating or forcing you to do sexual things, even if you are married.
- Emotional abuse such as lowering your self-esteem.
- Social abuse such as isolating you from family and friends.
- Economic abuse such as controlling access to money.
- Spiritual abuse such as preventing you from practising your spiritual beliefs.
- Threats to harm you, your children or pets.
- Threats or actually self-harming and saying you are responsible.
Support
The organisations below can provide help to people experiencing family violence:
- Safe Steps Family Violence and Response provides 24-hour support for women and children experiencing violence and abuse from someone close to them. Visit the Safe Steps website-external site.
- 1800RESPECT provides confidential online and phone counselling, information and referral service for anyone experiencing sexual assault, and domestic and family violence. Visit the 1800RESPECT website-external site.
- The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children. Visit The Orange Door website-external site.
- Eastern Community Legal Centre provides free legal advice and assistance for family violence matters (including intervention order support). Visit Eastern Community Legal Centre's website-external site.
- MensLine is a telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime. Visit the MensLine website-external site.
- Men’s Referral Service provides support by men for men to help them stop using violent and controlling behaviour. Find out more about the Men's Referral Service on the No to Violence website-external site.
- Djirra provides both telephone and face-to-face legal and non-legal support to Aboriginal people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence. Visit the Djirra website-external site.
- Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence is a specialist family violence service that works with women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, their families and their communities, in non-English languages. Visit the In Touch: Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence website-external site.
- Rainbow Door provides information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQ+ Victorians, their friends and family. Visit the Rainbow Door website-external site.
- Victims Support Agency provide victims with practical assistance, counselling and support through the justice system. Visit the Victim Services, Support and Reform page on the Victorian Government website-external site.