Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.

We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

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Other support for violence, abuse and personal safety

Learn where to get legal help and other support for violence, abuse and personal safety.

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Are you thinking about separating, or experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence?

The My safety tool can assist you to understand common separation issues, connect you with services and help you plan for your safety.

Get started with My safety

On this page

Emergency help

If you do not feel safe and need urgent help, do not wait. Phone 000 and ask for the police.

How we can help

We can give you:

  • legal information and advice about the law
  • legal representation to people who are eligible for duty lawyer assistance or if you have a grant of legal assistance

We can provide information about:

Our My Safety Tool

Our My Safety Tool can help you if you are experiencing family violence. It is designed to provide you with options for before and after relationship separation. It has been developed with people with lived experience of family violence.

Contact us

You can contact us by visiting:

If we cannot help you, we can refer you to organisations that can.

Family violence, family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders

Community legal centres

A community legal centre may be able to give you legal information and advice.

Some centres have lawyers who can:

  • give you legal advice at court
  • represent you (speak for you) at your hearing.

Most services are free.

Learn more about how they help with family violence issues by visiting the Federation of Community Legal Centres website.

Specialist legal services

These legal services may be able to help you:

  • Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service – legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  • Djirra – legal services for people who have experienced family violence who are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or a parent or carer of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.
  • Women's Legal Service Victoria – legal services for women experiencing family violence, separation or divorce.
  • Youthlaw – legal services for young people under 25.
  • inTouch Women's Legal Centre – legal services for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
  • Q+Law – legal services for Victorian LGBTIQA+SB communities.
  • Refugee Legal – legal services for asylum seekers, refugees and disadvantaged migrants.
  • Seniors Rights Victoria – legal services for older people experiencing family violence or elder abuse.
  • Our Victims Legal Service – this is a legal service run by VLA. It aims to help victims of crime to get financial help or compensation, provide counselling and health information, and help with reports to the police.

Private lawyers

You can find your own lawyer.

A lawyer can:

  • give you information about the law and going to court
  • give you legal advice
  • represent you at court.
Law Institute of Victoria

Law Institute of Victoria’s Find Your Lawyer Referral Service may help you find a lawyer who best suits your needs.

All law firms in the Find Your Lawyer Referral Service give a free 30-minute interview. Note that this is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.

Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner

The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner has a fact sheet and video: 'Six questions to ask about legal costs' to help you ask about legal costs before hiring a private lawyer.

Private lawyers who provide legal aid

Some law firms can apply for legal aid to work on family violence intervention order cases.

This means you do not have to pay for their service. Legal aid is only available for people who need it most.

You can search our list of Partner firms we work with that provide legal aid.

Court websites and resources

Magistrates' Court of Victoria

Visit the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria website to get both legal and non-legal support.

This includes:

Children’s Court of Victoria

You can visit the Children’s Court of Victoria website to apply for a family violence intervention order or personal safety intervention order through the Children’s Court of Victoria.

You can apply if you are:

  • aged between 14 and 17 and applying for yourself with leave from the court
  • applying for your child who is under 18 if you are not applying for an order for yourself in the Magistrates’ Court.

The Children’s Court has Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons. If you would like to talk to a Koori Court Officer, contact the court or tell the registrar when you arrive.

Court support

Court Network volunteers

Court Network volunteers are a community organisation that provide support for people going to court that are 18 years and over. They can tell you about how court works and support you at court, but cannot give legal advice.

To book support, contact Court Network as soon as possible. When you arrive at court, you can also ask court staff whether any Court Network volunteers are available that day.

Information and referral officers

We have information and referral officers (IROs) at some Specialist Family Violence Courts to help with family violence matters. They give support and information to people going to court.

Learn How information and referral officers can help with family violence matters.

Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS)

Our Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS) is available at both:

  • the Family Law Registry in Melbourne and Dandenong on a full-time basis, and
  • circuit locations of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) at Geelong, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura and Morwell when the court is sitting on circuit.

These duty lawyers can help you if you have experienced, used, or are alleged to have used family violence. They can help with your legal problem.

Family violence support and mental health support workers are also available to help you work through other issues such as:

  • accommodation
  • financial counselling
  • drug and alcohol support services
  • ongoing mental health supports.

For more information visit Family Advocacy and Support Services.

Specialist family violence and sexual assault support

People who have experienced family violence can contact the following services:

  • 1800RESPECT: provides support for family domestic or sexual violence with counselling and support services (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
  • No to Violence: provides support and referrals for those seeking information for their male partners, friends or family members who use family violence
  • Respect Victoria: information about recognising family violence in relationships
  • Safe Steps: a free service for those experiencing family violence. Their family violence response centre is available (24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They may be able to provide crisis accommodation.
  • Sexual Assault Services Victoria: they provide support and information for family violence and sexual assault. They do this online, by phone and through offices across Victoria.
  • The Orange Door: they provide help for people who are experiencing family violence. They also support with the care and wellbeing of children or young people.
  • WIRE – Support for women, trans and  gender-diverse people: support, referrals and information on any issue for women and gender diverse people.

Support for First Peoples

Support for migrant and refugee communities

Support for those who have used family violence

Publications and resources

Videos
Publications for those who have experienced family violence
Publications for those who have used or been accused of using family violence

Help from other organisations

Family violence

Child protection

How we can help

We can give you information and advice if Child Protection become involved with your family, even if you don’t have a court case.

For some matters, we can provide a lawyer to help run your case – learn more at Paying for a lawyer.

We may be able to do this if you are a:

  • child aged 10 to 17
  • parent or other person trying to have a child in your care.

Independent Family Advocacy and Support

Our Independent Family Advocacy and Support service helps parents and primary carers involved in the early stages of the child protection system. They provide non-legal advocacy and support.

These facts sheets have information for parents and primary carer who are involved in in the child protection system:

Factsheets

Child protection involvement with your family – what you can do

Answers common questions about child protection involvement, how to get help and what you can do if you’re unhappy with a Child Protection decision.

Download the factsheet:

Child protection involvement with your family – what you can do
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Information for parents and primary carers with a child protection court case

Answers some common questions about the child protection court process and how to get help.

Download the factsheet:

Information for parents and primary carers with a child protection court case
Word 125.34 KB
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Tips for working with Child Protection for parents and primary carers

Offers tips about working with Child Protection, from advocates and parents who have experience of Child Protection involvement with their family in the past.

Download the factsheet:

Tips for working with Child Protection for parents and primary carers
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Help for kids

Kids Helpline

A free, confidential and anonymous counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. You can talk to Kids Helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the phone or through their website.

Violent behaviour

How we can help

You can request Help Before Court for criminal charges if:

  • there are criminal charges against you
  • your court date is more than six days away.

For some matters, we can provide a lawyer to run your case. Learn more at Paying for a lawyer.

Community legal centres

A community legal centre may be able to give you legal information and advice.

Learn more at the Federation of Community Legal Centres website

Specialist legal services

These legal services may be able to help you:

Private lawyers

Law Institute of Victoria’s Find Your Lawyer Referral Service may help you find a lawyer who best suits your needs.

All law firms in the Find Your Lawyer Referral Service give a free 30-minute interview. Note that this is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.

Support from other organisations

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