How we can help
Contact us for free information about family violence intervention orders, personal safety orders, child protection matters and how we can help you.
- Speak to us
- Help in your language
- Support if you are deaf or find it hard to hear or speak on the phone
If we can’t help, we can refer you to other organisations that can.
If you are going to court for a mention hearing, read our self-help guides for applicants or respondents.
Family violence and intervention orders
Emergency help
If you are experiencing family violence and the situation is urgent do not wait, contact the police on 000.
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Your local community legal centre may be able to give you legal information and advice. Some centres also provide advice and representation at court. Most services are free.
The Women's Legal Service Victoria provides free confidential legal information, advice, representation and referral for women.
Djirra (formerly the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service) helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of family violence and sexual assault. They provide legal and non-legal support, and work with families and communities affected by violence.
You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral Service. All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. Note this is not 30 minutes of free legal advice but you can use this interview to understand more about your legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost.
Courts
The Family Violence Magistrates' Court of Victoria website can help you find your nearest court to apply for an intervention order.
Many courts have support services that can help you on the day of your hearing. These include lawyers for family violence applicants, respondents, LGBTIQA+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with family violence legal need.
Court Network volunteers support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. They can also make referrals to other community agencies for support after the hearing.
If you want to see a Court Network volunteer, tell the court staff. You can also ring them before you go to court.
Combined legal and social support services at the Federal Circuit and Family Court
Family Advocacy and Support Services are available at the Melbourne and Dandenong Family Law Registries.
This is for people who are involved in family law proceedings and who have experienced, used or are alleged to have used family violence.
It combines specialist legal advice, risk screening, safety planning, social support and referrals for families affected by family violence. See Family Advocacy and Support Services.
Family violence support services
Family violence services for people who wish to leave, or have left, a violent relationship are available from:
- 1800RESPECT – national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service
- Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic) (you can also Find your local service)
- Safe and Equal – Find a service
- inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
- Men’s Referral Service/No to Violence provides referrals and assistance to men to help address their use of family violence
- Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre
- Switchboard Victoria – LGBTIQA+ support service
- The Orange Door – free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing family violence
- Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE)
Services for respondents
The Men’s Referral Service/No to Violence provides referrals and help for men who use controlling behaviour towards a partner or family member, but also provide support and referrals to women and men seeking information on behalf of their male partners, friends or family members.
Mensline also helps men who are dealing with family violence.
Other services
Other services that may be able to help you:
- Kids Helpline
- Victims of Crime
- Child Protection Emergency Service
- Child First
- Family Relationship Advice Line
Resources for family violence and intervention orders
For people applying for an intervention order
- Safe at home: how to get a family violence intervention order (also available in Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese)
- Family violence intervention order applications – for affected family members
For people responding to an intervention order
- How to respond to a family violence intervention order
- Family violence intervention order applications – for respondents
See a list of all our free publications and resources.
We also have these videos:
Resources from other organisations
Eastern Community Legal Centre
Eastern Community Legal Centre have produced Steps 2 Safety, a video explaining the family violence intervention order process in an easy-to-understand way. The video is also available in Arabic, Chin – Hakha, Chinese – Mandarin, Dinka, and Punjabi.
Magistrates' Court
See the Family Violence Magistrates' Court of Victoria website for applications and more information and videos.
Peninsula Community Legal Centre
Peninsula Community Legal Centre has produced videos about how to identify family violence and where to get help. The videos are in English, with subtitles in Arabic, Dari and Hindi. Visit Our videos and podcasts on Peninsula Community Legal Centre’s website.
St Kilda Community Legal Service
St Kilda Legal Service with the Gender Equity Steering Committee, (including the City of Port Phillip, Stonnington City Council, Women’s Health in the South East and Bentleigh Bayside Community Health) have produced a film for young people to speak up and take action if someone they know is a victim or perpetrator of family violence.
Child protection
How we can help
For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case. You may be eligible if you are a:
- child aged 10 or more
- parent or other person trying to have a child in your care.
Other organisations that can help
Independent Family Advocacy and Support
Independent Family Advocacy and Support (IFAS) provides non-legal advocacy and support to parents and primary carers.
You can contact them for free in Victoria on 1800 849 200 at these times:
- Monday 9 am to 12 pm
- Wednesday 1 pm to 4 pm
- Friday 9 am to 12 pm.
On the phone, they will tell you what services they can offer you.
Aboriginal legal services
If you or your child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you can choose to access an Aboriginal legal service directly. Or you can ask to be referred to:
- Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service – phone 1800 064 865
- Djirra (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women only) – phone 1800 105 303.
Help for young people
Kids Helpline is a free, confidential and anonymous counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25. You can speak to a counsellor on the phone at any time of the day by calling 1800 551 800.
Visit the Kids Help Line website if you don't feel comfortable talking to someone over the phone, or if you can't get to a phone. Counselling is also available at certain times of the day, and by email. If you need help urgently, the telephone is the fastest way of getting to a counsellor.
Personal safety intervention orders
Emergency help
If you are experiencing violence and the situation is urgent do not wait, contact the police on ‘000’.
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Your local community legal centre may be able to give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
Djirra (formerly the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service) helps Aboriginal victims of sexual assault and works with families and communities affected by violence.
You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral Service. All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.
Help at court
Many courts have support services that can help you on the day of your hearing. Ask the court staff who can help you. See Magistrates' Court website for contact details.
Court Network volunteers support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. They can also make referrals to other community agencies for support after the hearing.
If you want to see a Court Network volunteer tell the court staff. You can also ring them before you go to court.
Victims of crime
The Victims Support Agency gives practical assistance to help victims recover from the effects of crime through the Victims of Crime website.
The Victims of Crime Helpline is a free service offering information, advice and referrals to help victims to manage and recover from the effects of crime. Helpline staff can also contact other agencies on your behalf so you don't need to repeat your story.
The Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) provides financial assistance to victims to help them recover from violent crimes.
The Victims Legal Service provides free legal advice and support to people who have suffered injury or loss because of a crime. The service assists victims who need help to get financial assistance through FAS or compensation from the person who committed the crime. The Victims Legal Service can also provide legal assistance, advice and representation to victim-survivors of sexual violence seeking to protect their confidential communications and health information in court.
Other services
Other services that may be able to help:
- Kids Helpline
- Victims of Crime Helpline
- Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic) (you can also Find your local service)
Resources for personal safety intervention orders
These resources will help you understand:
- assault and sexual assault
- what your rights are.
You can order or download these free publications:
- Personal safety intervention order: mention hearings self-help guide for applicant
- Personal safety intervention order: mention hearings self-help guide for respondent.
See a list of all our free publications and resources.
Resources from other organisations
Victims of Crime
The Victims Support Agency gives practical assistance to help victims recover from the effects of crime through the Victims of Crime website and helpline. This includes people who have experienced sexual assault.
They also have information about support services that can help and a list of publications and fact sheets to support victims of crime.
Magistrates' Court
The Magistrates' Court has information about personal safety intervention orders, how to apply for them, what happens if you go to court and where you can get help.
WIRE
WIRE's Stalking information booklet contains information for women being stalked, explaining the crime of stalking; the different types (including cyberstalking); what to do if you are stalked, and where to get help.
Violent behaviour
How we can help
If you are going to court for a criminal offence, and your court date is more than six days away, you can request help before court.
For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Your local community legal centre can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral Service. All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.
Help at court
Court Network volunteers support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. You can ring them before you go to court.
Resources for violent behaviour
These resources will help you understand:
- criminal offences
- police powers in Victoria
- what to do if you go to court for criminal charges.
You can order or download these free publications:
- Your day in court
- Police powers: your rights in Victoria
- Am I old enough? Common legal issues for young people
- Drugs, the law and safer substance use.
See a list of all our free publications and resources.
We also have a video about police.
Resources from other organisations
Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League website has information on the main laws and penalties related to the use of illegal drugs. It includes a section on Victorian laws and penalties.
The Agriculture Victoria website has information about:
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