Family violence and sexual assault services

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If you or someone you know is impacted by family violence you can call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. This 24 hours national counselling service provides specialist support and advice.

If you are in immediate danger call the Police on 000.


The services below acknowledge that partner, domestic, family and sexual violence can affect people of all ages, genders, abilities, cultural and religious backgrounds, including pets and children.

Crisis support lines

1800 RESPECT or 1800 737 732

24 hour/7 days a week confidential counselling, support and safety planning by trained counsellors for people impacted by sexual, domestic and family violence.

Phone: 1800 737 732
Website: 1800respect.org.au

The Orange Door

The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence. The Orange Door has multiple locations, visit their website to find the right centre for you.

Phone: 1800 271 150
Email: oema@orangedoor.vic.gov.au
Website: orangedoor.vic.gov.au
Walk in: 4-16 Devon Street, Croydon (corner of Pierson Drive and Railway Grove)

Child Protection Crisis Line

If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child within their family, call the 24-hour Child Protection Crisis Line.

Phone: 13 12 78
Website:
services.dffh.vic.gov.au

Support services

Services for everyone

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: anglicarevic.org.au

Coronavirus - family violence safety information

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

For more information visit the Better Health Channel website.

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.

24-hour sexual assault crisis line: 1800 806 292
Phone: 03 9870 7330 (business hours)
Website: easternhealth.org.au

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: eclc.org.au

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: familyrelationships.gov.au

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: relationshipsvictoria.org.au

Services for people who identify as female

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.org.au

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.org.au

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.

Phone: 03 9259 4200 (9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday | 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday)

InTouch

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

To view information on family violence in 63 community languages.

Phone: 1800 755 988 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
Website: intouch.org.au

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: safesteps.org.au

Services for people who identify as male

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.org.au

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 (8am to 9pm, Monday to Friday. 9am to 6pm, Weekends and Public Holidays. Closed on Christmas Day).
Website: mrs.org.au

Services for First Nations People

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: 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: bwahs.com.au

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.org.au

Services for people who identify as LGBTIQA+

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)
Website: rainbowdoor.org.au

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 (9am to 5pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday | 9am to 6pm, Tuesday)
Website: withrespect.org.au

Services for seniors

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: eclc.org.au

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

Services for migrant and refugee people

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 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
Website: intouch.org.au

Services for people who have perpetrated family violence

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: anglicarevic.org.au

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: familyrelationships.gov.au

Services to support with pet safety

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: 03 9259 4200

Services for organisations

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: ourwatch.org.au

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: respectvictoria.vic.gov.au

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: safeandequal.org.au

Further information

For information on these and other Maroondah City Council initiatives contact Council's Community Development team on 1300 88 22 33.