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Get Help
You are Not Alone
If you are experiencing domestic violence, support and assistance is available. It is sometimes hard to tell your story and ask for help - but remember no one should have to live in fear. Talk with someone you trust or contact one of the support services listed below.
Confidential Hotline 1800 200 526
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I don't want my
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Contacts
- National
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- New Zealand
Safety Plan
- Safety Plan for Women Living in Potentially Violent Situations
- Important Items Checklist
- Erasing Computer Files
| National |
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Emergency 000 Confidential Helpline 1800 200 526 Lifeline 1800 800 768 Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 Mensline 1300 78 99 78 |
| Victoria |
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Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Family Life 03 9598 2133
The Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence Support Line
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| New South Wales |
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New South Wales
The Benevolent Society
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| Queensland |
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DVConnect 1800 811 811
dvconnect womensline 1800 811 811
dvconnect mensline 1800 600 636
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| South Australia |
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Domestic Violence Help Line 1800 800 098
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| Western Australia |
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Women's Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 007 339
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| Tasmania |
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Domestic Violence Crisis Service
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| Northern Territory |
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Crisis Line 1800 019 116
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| New Zealand |
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Crisis Line (09) 303-3939
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Safety Plan for Women living in potentially violent situations
Be Prepared
Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviours. If it has happened once it is likely to occur again. It is therefore very important to be prepared and create your personal safety plan to protect yourself.
Safety Plan
Leave $10 or more and an extra set of car keys hidden outside your house or at a neighbour's house.
Keep important documents (birth certificates, medical records, financial records, marriage certificate/licence etc.) and extra clothing at a friend's house or hidden near an exit.
Try to develop friendships with neighbours, tell those who you can trust about the violence. Ask them to agree to call the police if they
hear suspicious noise coming from your house.
Develop a code word with two friends that lets them know that you need to get out now.
Let your child's teacher and school principal know enough about the situation to respond supportively in the crisis. Try to get them to agree to not release the children to their father, should you report to them that you are about to leave home.
Decide now where you will go, how you will get there etc. the next time he becomes violent. (Do this even if you really don't think there will be a next time).
If you tell him that you will leave if he ever hits you again, think about whether you're giving him permission to hit you "just one more time".
Try to avoid arguments in the bathroom, in the garage, in the kitchen, near weapons or any other place that has sharp or heavy equipment/instruments around.
If he seems to be "building up" and you can't safely leave, try to keep your back towards an open space NOT a corner.
Always remember, you do not deserve to be hurt
Thank You
Thank You to the Southern Family Life for these details. SFL are a not for profit community organisation based in Melbourne. You can visit their website at www.southernfamilylife.org.au or contact them on 03 9598 2133
Important Items
If you need to leave home quickly, it may help to have a number of important items within easy access that you can take with you.
Checklist
- medicare card
- health care cards
- school and medical records
- money, bankbook, passports
- credit cards
- keys-house/car/office
- driver's license
- medications
- change of clothes
- rental agreements
- address book
- pictures, jewellery
- items of sentimental value
- children's favourite toys
Thank You
Thank You to the Family Life for these details. Family Life are a not for profit
community organisation based in Melbourne. You can visit their website at www.familylife.org.au or contact them on 03 9598 2133
Internet Safety
You may be at risk if you have visited domestic violence websites to search for information or support services. There are ways to erase your computer records. You can erase the history of the sites that you have recently visited by doing the following:
Internet Explorer
Click on “Tools” on the drop down menu at the top of the page. Select “Internet Options” and then “General”
Under “History” there is a button that says “Clear History”. This will remove the trail of website pages that you have recently visited.
Netscape
Click on “Edit” on the drop down menu at the top of the page. Select “Preferences” and then “Advanced”
Under “Cache” click on “Clear Disk Cache.
Whilst these methods clear the immediately obvious internet history on your computer, it may not completely delete records. The safest way to access information on the internet would be on an independent computer. These could be at the local library, internet cafe or at a friend’s or family member’s house.
If you are receiving abusive emails, maintain a record of the emails, as you may need these in the future as evidence. Email browsers are not generally passworded and easily accessible by anyone. For a secure email account, you can set up an email on the internet for free that requires a login code and password. For example: Set up a hotmail account at www.ninemsn.com.au or a yahoo account at www.yahoo.com.au