What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence occurs when one person uses some form of violence such as physical, emotional, sexual, financial or social to control another person in a current or previous relationship.
Assistance and Support
Help Line - if you are, or could be, a victim of domestic violence, and you live in New South Wales, you can contact the Domestic Violence Line phone 1800 656 463 (toll free) or TTY 1800 671 442 (for callers with a hearing impairment).
Staff will answer your call 24hrs a day every day of the week. They can assist you with advice about your safety needs, obtaining Apprehended Violence Orders, protecting your children, how to get legal help, how to get court support, how to get counselling, referrals to women's refuges and other support you may need. For more information visit the DoCS Domestic Violence Line website.
Protecting yourself and your children -For information on how to protect yourself from the offender visit the Protection from the Offender webpage.
If your child is at risk call the DoCS Helpline on 132 111.
The DoCS Helpline website can provide further information. On the website there is also a brochure on child abuse that can be downloaded: Spot It - Help Stop It. This brochure is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Croation, Macedonian, Turkish and Vietnamese.
Somewhere to stay - if you need somewhere to stay, you can call these numbers:
- Domestic Violence Line (24 hours) 1800 656 463 (tollfree)
- Victims Support Line (24 hours) (02) 8688 5400 or 1800 633 063 (tollfree)
- Homeless Persons Information Centre (02) 9265 9081 or 1800 234 566 (tollfree)
Legal help - if you need legal assistance, you can call these numbers:
Information - if you need information, you can call the following numbers or select the website links:
- Domestic Violence Line (24 hours) 1800 656 463 (tollfree)
- Victims Support Line (24 hours) (02) 8688 5400 or 1800 633 063 (tollfree)
- Walking Through the Courts - Getting an Apprehended Violence Order A.V.O. A brochure produced by the Redfern Legal Centre. Phone: (02) 9698 7277.
A colourful flowchart shows the process of obtaining an AVO and other questions answered in the brochure include:
Do I have to go to court and will I see him there?
What will happen to him?
Can we still live together?
How long will I be at the Court?
What if I change my mind?
Available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese
- Understanding Your Legal Rights: A guide for Lesbians and Gay Men in NSW is a website focusing on rights for gay and lesbian couples. There is a section on protection from violence, apprehended violence orders and apprehended domestic violence orders.
NSW Police Domestic Violence Liaison Officers (DVLOs) are attached to 165 patrols across New South Wales and are specially trained to assist victims of domestic violence. They can give advice about legal avenues, support agencies available which offer alternate accommodation and financial support available. They will go to court with domestic violence victims to assist with applications for AVOs. You can find contact details for your Local Police Station on the NSW Police website.
NSW Police - Domestic Violence Information The NSW Police website has information for victims of domestic violence including:
- What is family & domestic violence?
- Patterns of abuse
- Early warning signs
- Power and control wheel
- How to report domestic violence
Obtaining an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order: A brochure, "Domestic Violence Help With Going to Court", is available on the NSW Legal Aid website. This brochure is available in 15 languages.
Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme can help women get an ADVO. Support workers at the Scheme will explain about ADVOs and stopping domestic violence; tell you what will happen in court; go with you to court to support you and tell you about other organisations that can help you. For contact details for the 33 Schemes located across rural and metropolitan NSW visit the NSW Legal Aid website.
Counselling and support
If the domestic violence happened in New South Wales, and you want to apply for counselling under the Victims Services Approved Counselling Scheme, visit the Victims Services website for more information about the counselling scheme and application forms.
You can also discuss options for support by phoning the Victims Support Line on (02) 8688 5400 or 1800 633 063 (toll free) or on TTY (02) 8688 5575 (for callers with a hearing impairment). For an interpreter you may call the Telephone Interpreting Service on TIS 131 450.
Non-English Background
Immigrant Women's Support Service - A community based organisation which works with women and children of non-English speaking background who are or have been in violent domestic situations and/or have experienced rape and/or sexual assault. NOTE: This service is based in Queensland and you can phone the domestic violence support on (07) 3846 3490 or sexual assault support on (07) 3846 5400. Email: mail@iwss.org.au
Same Sex Domestic Violence
The Another Closet website contains information on what domestic violence is, domestic violence in same sex relationships, what to do if you are experiencing abuse and the details for a number of important referral services.
Compensation
If the domestic violence happened in New South Wales you may eligible to receive victims compensation. The Domestic Violence page on the Victims Services website can give you more information about eligibility and applying for compensation.
