Family violence and sexual assault services

Anglicare

Anglicare offer safe and confidential help for victims of family violence, as well as the adults or adolescents who perpetrate it. Experts are trained in working with families impacted by family violence, and provide safe environments for all individuals that have experienced it.

Anglicare offer tailored programs for those who have been involved in violence in the home, using an approach that emphasises the need for behaviour change and accountability in those that perpetuate the violence.

Website: Anglicare Victoria 

Coronavirus - family violence safety information

Find out about the financial support available to people affected by COVID-19.

See the Better Health Channel website for more information. 

Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (ECASA)

ECASA provides services to women, men, children and young people who are victims/survivors of recent or past sexual assault. The service is also available to non-offending family members, partners and friends.

Phone: 1800 806 292 (24-hour sexual assault crisis line) or 9870 7330 during business hours
Website: Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault

Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC)

ECLC provides free and confidential legal advice and assistance to people experiencing or at risk of family violence, including elder abuse, across the Eastern Metropolitan Region (EMR). They also provide interpreter services. 

Phone: 03 9285 4822 
Website: Eastern Community Legal Centre

For support or advice in relation to elder abuse, call 1300 32 52 00 (1300 ECLC 00) or 0429 697 960. 

Family Relationships Online

Family Relationships provides information for all families – whether together or separated – about family relationship issues.  Find out about a range of services to assist families to manage relationship issues, including helping families agree on arrangements for children after parents separate.

Website: Family Relationships Online 

Relationships Australia Victoria

Relationships Australia Victoria provide services for all members of the community, regardless of religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, cultural background or economic circumstances. They support individuals, couples, families, parents/carers, children and young people, and older Australians.

Website: Relationships Victoria 

DAWN (Doncare)

DAWN provides long-term support to women recovering from the ramifications of domestic violence. This is done through a mentoring process, where volunteers are matched with a client to provide social support, assistance with practical issues and companionship.

Website: Doncare

Djirra

Preventing and addressing family violence and supporting Aboriginal women through legal services, community education, early intervention and prevention programs.

Phone: 1800 105 303 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Website: Djirra

Free From Family Violence (FVREE)

FVREE is the specialist family violence service for the eastern areas of Melbourne. FVREE supports women of any age, ethnicity, religion, gender/sex identity, their children and pets who are responding to any form of violence, including partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, carer abuse, parental and sibling abuse.

FVREE have prepared multilingual Q&A family violence information and short videos on how to access family violence support. The downloadable information is available in Greek, Arabic, Hindi, Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Persian. See more at FVREE translated information.

Phone: 9259 4200, Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm  
Website: Free From Family Violence

InTouch

InTouch is a state-wide specialist family violence service for migrant and refugee women, their families and their communities in Victoria.

View information on family violence in 63 community languages.

Phone: 1800 755 988 (Monday to Friday 9am -5pm)
Website: InTouch

Safe Steps Family Violence Response Service

The Safe Steps to Family Violence Response Service (SSFVRS) is the Victorian state-wide service for women experiencing violence and abuse from a partner or ex-partner, another family member or someone else close to them.

Phone: 1800 015 188 (24 hour toll free line) 
Website: Safe steps

MensLine Australia 

MensLine Australia offers free, professional 24/7 online counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationship, stress and wellbeing 

Phone: 1300 78 99 78 
Website: MensLine Australia

Men’s Referral Service

The Men’s Referral Service is a free, confidential telephone helpline that offers counselling, advice and support to men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues. The service also provides help to women (or other family members) who are experiencing violence or controlling behaviour by men.

Phone: 1300 766 491 (free call within Victoria) or 03 9428 2899 (Monday to Friday 8am -9pm. Weekends and Public Holidays (except Christmas Day) 9am to 6pm). 
Website: Men's referral service

13 Yarn

If you, or someone you know, are feeling worries or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Phone: 13 92 76
Website: www.13yarn.org.au

Boorndawan Willam Healing Service

Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service (BWAHS) is the lead specialist Aboriginal Specific family violence service that provides a service in the Eastern Metropolitan Region that is inclusive of Inner and Outer East.

Phone: 03 9212 0200
Website: Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Health Service

Djirra

Preventing and addressing family violence and supporting Aboriginal women through legal services, community education, early intervention and prevention programs.

Phone: 1800 105 303 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Website: Djirra

Rainbow Door

Free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support and referral to LGBTIQA+ people, their friends and family.

Phone: 1800 729 367 10am to 5pm 7 days a week. Call, text or email.
Website: Rainbow Door

With Respect

With Respect is a specialist LGBTIQ+ family violence service for LGBTIQ+ people of all ages and their families who may be experiencing difficulty in their relationships, including intimate partner or family violence.

Phone: 1800 LGBTIQ / 1800 542 847 (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9am to 5pm. Tuesday 9am - 8pm)
Website: With Respect 

Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC)

ECLC provides free and confidential legal advice and assistance to people experiencing or at risk of family violence, including elder abuse, across the Eastern Metropolitan Region (EMR). They also provide interpreter services. 

For support or advice in relation to elder abuse:

Phone: 1300 32 52 00 (1300 ECLC 00) or 0429 697 960
Website: Eastern Community Legal Centre

Elder Abuse Hotline

Contact the Elder Abuse Hotline to report elder abuse.

Phone: 1800 44 11 69 or text 0457 806 963 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)

Rights of Seniors in the East (ROSE)

ROSE is a partnership with Oonah Belonging Place that uses a unique integrated model to provide legal, financial counselling, social work advice, information and case management support to older people with increased vulnerability, who are experiencing or at risk of elder abuse.

Website: ECLC

InTouch

InTouch is a state-wide specialist family violence service for migrant and refugee women, their families and their communities in Victoria.

View information on family violence in 63 community languages.

Phone: 1800 755 988 (Monday to Friday 9am -5pm)
Website: InTouch

Anglicare

Anglicare offer safe and confidential help for victims of family violence, as well as the adults or adolescents who perpetrate it. Experts are trained in working with families impacted by family violence, and provide safe environments for all individuals that have experienced it.

Anglicare offer tailored programs for those who have been involved in violence in the home, using an approach that emphasises the need for behaviour change and accountability in those that perpetuate the violence.

Website: Anglicare Victoria 

Family Relationships Online

Family Relationships provides information for all families – whether together or separated – about family relationship issues.  Find out about a range of services to assist families to manage relationship issues, including helping families agree on arrangements for children after parents separate.

Website: Family Relationships Online 

Pets in Peril

FVREE Pets in Peril program aims to improve animal/pet safety in family violence situations, and partners with community agencies, veterinarians and volunteers to provide temporary shelter where need. 

Evidence indicates that perpetrators of family violence often threaten or harm family pets as a way of exerting power and control over family members. In many cases, women remain in abusive relationships because they are concerned for pet safety or don’t know how to find alternative care for their pets. 

Phone: 9259 4200
Website: Pets in Peril

Our Watch

Our Watch is a national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia. They work to embed gender equality and prevent violence where Australians live, learn, work and socialise.

Website: Our Watch

Respect Victoria

Respect Victoria are the dedicated organisation for the prevention of family violence and violence against women in Victoria. Their vision is a Victoria where everyone is safe, equal and respected.

Website: Respect Victoria

Safe and equal

Safe and Equal is the peak body for specialist family violence services that provide support to victim survivors in Victoria. They are an independent, non-government organisation that leads, organises, advocates for, and acts on behalf of their members – from primary prevention through to response and recovery.

Website: Safe and Equal