Domestic violence services and support contact list
On this page:
- Emergency
- Aboriginal community
- Children and young people
- Counselling and support
- Crisis lines
- Disability
- Drugs and alcohol
- Emergency accommodation
- Financial help
- Health
- Housing
- Immigrant communities
- Legal help
- LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer)
- Men
- Mental health
- Pets
- Seniors
- Sexual assault
- Victims services
- Translating and Interpreting Service
Aboriginal community
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community are able to access any of the services and supports listed on this page, but may feel more comfortable accessing services that are more culturally appropriate and sensitive.
Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline
Victims Services has a dedicated contact line for Aboriginal victims of crime who would like information on victims rights, how to access counselling and financial assistance.
Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline
1800 019 123
Aboriginal Medical Services
Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) are Aboriginal community-controlled health care services and aims to improve the health standards in Aboriginal communities across Australia. The centres provide culturally appropriate health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Aboriginal Medical Services
Find your local AMS centre in NSW
Housing Contact Centre – Aboriginal Enquiry Line
An Aboriginal staff member of DCJ works on this phone line Monday to Friday. They can help you with your housing and rental issues. If an Aboriginal staff member is not there when you ring, you can leave a message. An Aboriginal staff member will call you back as soon as they can. You can talk to a non-Aboriginal staff member if you want.
Aboriginal Enquiry Line
1800 422 322
Legal help – see 'Aboriginal community' on the Legal help page
Sexual assault services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Aboriginal Women's Legal Centre Contact Line
1800 639 784
Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women's Legal Centre
1800 686 587
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services
www.natsils.org.au
Police NSW
If you wish to talk to the police about a sexual assault, you can ask to speak with an Aboriginal Support Person if there is one available in that command.
Centre for Aboriginal Health
If you wish to speak to an Aboriginal counsellor in your area, you can contact the Centre for Aboriginal Health about the availability of Aboriginal Family Health Workers, and/or Aboriginal sexual assault workers in your area. NSW health has specially trained counsellors who receive training to respond to the needs of victims of sexual assault.
Centre for Aboriginal Health
02 9391 9502
Victims Services – Aboriginal Contact Line
Financial support and counselling is also available if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island person who is a victim of crime, such as family violence or sexual assault. Call the Victims Servcies Aboriginal Contact Line and ask to speak to the Aboriginal contact officer.
Victims Services – Aboriginal Contact Line
1800 019 123
Children and young people
Counselling and support
eHeadspace
eHeadspace is an online and telephone service the supports young people and their families who are going through a tough time. You can drop by your nearest headspace centre or get confidential support 7 days a week between 9am and 1am.
Kids Helpline
Private and confidential telephone and online counselling service specifically for people aged between 5 and 25 in Australia. Open 24/7.
The Line
The Line website aims to help teenagers and young adults through difficult times in their lives.
Youthline
(02) 9951 5522
ReachOut.com
ReachOut.com provides information to young people on all aspects of their lives, from anger and alcohol, to body image and exam stress, to sexuality and cyberbullying. It's a place where young people can read articles, ask questions and hang out.
Accommodation and housing
Link2home
If you're between 12 and 18 years old and looking for emergency accommodation, call Link2home.
Link2home
1800 152 152
Twenty10Association
Twenty10 Association
Gay and lesbian youth services, 24 hours
02 8594 9555
1800 652 010
Legal help
Look under 'Children and youth' on the Domestic violence: Legal help contacts listing page.
Counselling and support
1800RESPECT
24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and sexual assault.
1800RESPECT
open 24/7
1800 737 732
Ask Izzy
A free, Australia-wide service for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to find the services they need, right now and nearby about where to get help for shelter, food, health and other critical services.
Ask Izzy
Blue Knot Foundation
Telephone counselling for adult survivors of childhood trauma, their friends, family and the health care professionals who support them
Blue Knot Foundation
open 9am - 5pm
1300 657 380
Email helpline@blueknot.org.au
Domestic Violence Line
The Domestic Violence Line is a NSW statewide telephone crisis counselling and referral service for women and persons who identify as female.
Domestic Violence Line
open 24/7
1800 656 463
Lisa Harnum Foundation: Freedom from domestic abuse
The Lisa Harnum Foundation supports victims of domestic abuse in the Sydney Hills area, including counselling, group work, courses, training. safe room, and transitional housing.
Lisa Harnum Foundation
1300 732 848
Relationships Australia
Support groups and counselling on relationships, and for abusive and abused partners.
Relationships Australia
To be connected to the nearest Relationships Australia, call
1300 364 277
Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service NSW
Find a WDVCAS support service in your area and get help, support and advice on issues relating to domestic or family violence.
WDVCAS helpline
1800WDCVAS
1800 938 227
Crisis lines
Child Protection Helpline
The Child Protection Helpline is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, statewide call centre staffed by professionally qualified caseworkers to receive and screen all reports about suspected abuse or neglect of a child or young person or those at risk of harm from abuse or neglect.
Child Protection Helpline
132 111
Domestic Violence Line
The Domestic Violence Line is a NSW statewide telephone crisis counselling and referral service for women and persons who identify as female.
Domestic Violence Line
open 24/7
1800 737 732
1800RESPECT
24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and sexual assault.
1800RESPECT
open 24/7
1800 737 732
Lifeline
For 24-hour counselling and suicide prevention.
Disability
Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline
An Australia-wide telephone hotline for reporting abuse and neglect of people with disability.
Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1800 880 052
TTY 1800 301 130
Domestic Violence Line
The Domestic Violence Line is a NSW statewide telephone crisis counselling and referral service for women and persons who identify as female.
Domestic Violence Line
open 24/7
TTY 1800 671 442
People With Disabilities Australia
Short-term individual and group advocacy assistance to people with disability.
1800 422 015
02 9370 3100
TTY free call: 1800 422 016
TTY: 02 9318 2138
Email: pwd@pwd.org.au
Website: www.pwd.org.au
Intellectual Disability Rights Service
02 9318 0144
Email: info@idrs.org.au
http://www.idrs.org.au/
Criminal Justice Support Network
for people with an intellectual disability
Drugs and alcohol
Alcoholics Anonymous
02 9799 1199
Family Drug Support
02 4782 9222
1300 368 186
Narcotics Anonymous
02 9212 3444
Australian Drug Information Network has a list of services that can help you.
Emergency accommodation
You can also find out more information about accommodation and support available from specialist homelessness services through the Going Home Staying Home website.
Link2home
If you need emergency accommodation in NSW because of homelessness or family and domestic violence, Link2home will provide you with information about crisis accommodation in your area.
Youth Emergency Accommodation Line
If you are 12-24 and need somewhere to live
1800 424 830 (rural areas).
9318 1531 (cities and suburbs)
Financial help
Centrelink Financial Assistance
Centrelink can provide crisis payments and other support in cases of domestic and family violence.
Find your local Centrelink office online
Centrelink - help in an emergency
Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
132 850
Centrelink - Family and parenting payments
13 61 50
Multilingual information
13 12 02
Wesley Mission CreditLine
Financial advice and referral
Wesley Misson CreditLine
1800 808 488
9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri
MoneySmart
Where to get help if you’re in crisis through the Australian government MoneySmart website
Health
Women’s Health NSW Centres
Women's Health NSW is an association of non-government women's health and specialist centres. They can provide counselling, education and self-help and consumer advocacy services. Find a local Women’s Health NSW centre .
Local hospitals and community health centres
The Department of Health funds hospitals and health care centres around NSW. Find a local hospital or health centre.
Your local doctor
Your local doctor or GP can help you with any health issues and refer you to other services. To find a doctor near you, you can search Infoxchange Service Seeker.
Infoxchange Service Seeker is a free website available to anyone looking for support services across NSW covering housing, health, disability, aged care, welfare, community, education, legal and more.
Housing
Link2home
Link2home is a statewide information and referral service who can refer you to Specialist Homelessness Services that support women and children who are escaping domestic and family violence.
Link2home
1800 152 152
Housing NSW
DCJ Housing assistance
Specialist homelessness services, delivered by non-government organisations, form a vital part of the service system supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Housing Contact Centre
Information on longer-term housing support, applying for social housing and the state-wide housing register.
Housing Contact Centre - Aboriginal Enquiry Line
An Aboriginal staff member of DCJ works on this phone line Monday to Friday. They can help you with your housing and rental issues. If an Aboriginal staff member is not there when you ring, you can leave a message. An Aboriginal staff member will call you back as soon as they can. You can talk to a non-Aboriginal staff member if you want.
Staying Home Leaving Violence
Staying Home Leaving Violence is a free program which supports victims to stay safely in their own home, by working with police to remove the perpetrator from the family home. The program is available in 27 locations across NSW.
Wesley Mission Housing and accommodation
Wesley Mission Housing and accommodation
Find a bed
YFoundations
YFoundations is a peak body for issues around youth homelessness.
YFoundations
02 8306 7900
Immigrant communities
Centrelink multilingual phone service
Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
131 202
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre Inc.
Provides free immigration advice and representation to refugees and financially disadvantaged immigrants in New South Wales. You can make an appointment to talk to someone about legal advice.
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre Inc
Tuesday and Thursday, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
02 9262 3833
Immigrant Women's Health Service
The Immigrant Women’s Health Service provides help to immigrant and refugee women. They run workshops, support groups and a free Women’s Health Clinic.
Immigrant Women's Speakout
Provides domestic violence support, advocacy, information, referral and research body representing the ideas and issues of immigrant and refugee women in NSW. It is a community-based organisation managed by women from different culture and language backgrounds.
Immigrant Women’s Speakout
(02) 9635 8022
PO Box 9031, Harris Park NSW 2150
Email: women@speakout.org.au
Speakout Radio
Speakout radio is a project by the Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association where issues about domestic and family violence are covered in radio plays. You can listen to mp3 recordings of the plays or read the scripts. They’re available in Arabic, Dari, Dinka, Khmer, Krio, Mandarin, Somali, Sudanese Arabic and Vietnamese.
Interrelate Family Centres
Provides family support, including support for multicultural families. Interrelate has 10 major regional locations across NSW and 26 outreach locations in the broader community. For more information on a specific region visit the website or call.
Services for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Services(STARTTS):
(02) 9794 1900
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)
Gain free access to a telephone or on-site interpreter in your own language. Immediate phone interpreting is available 24 hours, every day of the year.
Translating and Interpreting Service
131 450
Transcultural Mental Health
1800 648 911
Legal help
Please see the Domestic violence: Legal help contacts page
LGBTIQ
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer)
Counselling and support
QLife
Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or intersex (LGBTI). QLife provides nation-wide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web based services to people of all ages across the full breadth of people’s bodies, genders, relationships, sexualities, and lived experiences.
QLife Helpline
3pm - midnight, every day
1800 184 527
QLife Webchat Online Counselling
3pm - midnight everyday
Twenty10LGCS
Twenty10 Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service of NSW provides free face to face individual counselling for people aged 12 to 15.
Another Closet
Another Closet has services and Information, tips, personal stories and training notes about domestic and family violence in LGBTIQ relationships.
The Safe Relationships Project at the Inner City Legal Centre
The Safe Relationships Project offers domestic violence court assistance and support for people who are in same-sex relationships, transgender, transsexual or intersex. They offer help with applying for Apprehended Violence Orders, referrals for counselling and housing, and advice on family law and compensation for victims.
Safe Relationships Project
(02) 9332 1966
The Gender Centre Inc.
The Gender Centre offers a range of services for transgender and gender diverse people, their partners, families and friends in NSW. These supports include counselling, case management, accommodation, resources, training and workshops. The Gender Centre is located in Annandale, NSW.
Gender Centre
(02) 9569 2366
1800 069 115
Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII)
Organisation Intersex International Australia offers support and information for people who are intersex in Australia.
Twenty10 Association
Twenty10 Association
Gay and lesbian youth services, 24 hours
02 8594 9555
1800 652 010
NSW Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers
Contact through your local Police Station.
Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs) are specially trained to address LGBTIQ issues.
Gay and Lesbian Anti-violence Project
(02) 9206 2116
1800 063 060
Legal help - see LGBTQI in legal help contacts
Men
Mensline
A 24 hour service for men which has counsellors who are trained in dealing with male victims of domestic violence. Men who are afraid to leave a violent relationship because they have nowhere to go can contact the Mensline, yhey’ll help you with advice and information about your options.
Mensline
24/7
1300 78 99 78
Men’s Referral Service
The Men’s Referral Service offers anonymous and confidential telephone counselling, information and referrals to help men stop using violent and controlling behaviour.
Men’s Referral Service
1300 766 491
1800 RESPECT
24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and sexual assault.
Mental health
Lifeline
counselling and suicide prevention
open 24/7
13 11 14
BeyondBlue
24hr online and telephone support for people with depression and anxiety
1300 22 4636
Pets
Safe Beds for Pets
The RSPCA Safe Beds for Pets program provides temporary housing for pets of people who are seeking refuge from domestic violence.
RSPCA Safe Beds Pets Program
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
02 9770 7555
Seniors
Elder abuse helpline
Older women may have been domestic violence victims for years, or it may have started later in life. Your abuser could be a husband or partner, child, carer, or other family member.
The Aged Rights Service (TARS)
TARS provides advocacy and legal information and advice for older people.
The Aged Rights Service (TARS)
1800 424 079
Older Women’s Network (OWN)
OWN promotes the dignity, rights and wellness of older women and runs social groups and projects for older women.
Sexual assault
NSW Rape Crisis Centre
NSW Rape Crisis is the 24/7 telephone and online crisis counselling service for anyone in NSW - men and women - who has experienced or is at risk of sexual assault. They also have information about services and fact sheets on their website. And a list of NSW Health Sexual Assault Services, Police and Women's Health Centres by region.
Sexual assault hotline
1800 424 017
(02) 9819 6565
Bravehearts
Bravehearts is a non-profit organisation providing child protection training, child sexual assault counselling and support services. Call Braveherts if you need information of support relating to child sexual assault.
Bravehearts
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm
1800 272 831
Child & Adolescent Sexual Assault Counsellors - CASAC
CASAC provides child sexual assault counselling and support services to children, young people and adults, and their non-offending family members.
Child Sexual Assault Counselling and support services (CASAC)
(02) 9601 3790
Sexual Assault Services
Contact via your local hospital or go to www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/sexualassault
Victim Services
Victims Services in the NSW Department of Justice help victims of crime. They offer support services for victims of violent crime, including victims of sexual assault to access counselling, victims rights, and how to get support throughout the justice system.
Victims Services' Approved Counselling Service
Receive free face-to-face counselling via the Victims Access Line
1800 633 063
The hours of operation are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Victims services
Victims Services in the NSW Department of Justice help victims of crime in NSW. They offer support services for victims of violent crime, including victims of sexual assault and family violence, to access counselling, victims rights, and how to get support throughout the justice system.
Department of Corrective Services Victims Register
(02) 9289 1374
Department of Juvenile Justice Victims Register
(02) 9219 9400
NSW Health Forensic Patients Victims Register
(02) 9391 9302
Victims Access Line
1800 633 063
The hours of operation are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Translating and Interpreting Service
Gain free access to a telephone or on-site interpreter in your own language. Immediate phone interpreting is available 24 hours, every day of the year.