The steps you can take to seek help
If you think you may be experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV), help and support is available.
Watch the video below to learn more about the steps you can take to seek help.
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If you're worried about your safety in a relationship with someone close to you, you come to the right place.
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Everyone deserves to have safe and healthy relationships, and there are steps you can take to get advice or help if you're experiencing domestic and family violence.
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If you think you're experiencing domestic and family violence, talk to someone you can trust.
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This might be someone like a close friend, your doctor, or a disability support worker.
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You can ask them for support and advice, and they can help connect you with a domestic and family violence support service.
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It's important to find a service that you're comfortable with and who understands your personal situation so they can support you to consider the options available to you in your individual situation.
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Another step you can take is to contact a disability advocacy organisation.
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A disability advocate helps protect your rights and ensures you are treated with the respect and care you have The right to.
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Your disability advocate will support you, speak up for you, and give you advice.
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If you choose to have your advocate find you a domestic and family violence support service, the service will discuss your options and support your decisions about what steps you would like to take.
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A domestic and family violence service can also help you to make a safety plan.
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These plans are made with you to improve your safety and meet your individual needs.
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If your relationship continues, you end or leave the relationship.
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You've already ended or left the relationship.
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If you need help, support is available and there are many steps you can take to help you be safe.
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You can get support over the phone, online, or in person from your doctor or a disability support worker.
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You can also talk to someone you trust.
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Remember, everyone has the right to feel safe, be safe and enjoy healthy relationships.
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You can find out more at our website www.qld.gov.au/neverok
If you are in danger now, phone Triple Zero (000) and ask for the police.
If making a phone call isn’t safe, you can contact the police online.
There are steps you can take to get advice or help if you are in a DFV situation.
Under each step on this page, we include the details of services as well as useful links and resources.
Steps you can take:
- Talk to someone you can trust
- Find a disability advocate
- Make a safety plan
- Find a safe place to stay
- Protect your children
- Find a safe place for your pets
- Learn how to use technology safely
- Get help with money
- Make a police report
- Get legal help
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Talk to someone you can trust
If you are experiencing DFV, or even if you’re not sure but think you might be, there are many services you can get information and help from. It’s important to find a service that you are comfortable with and who understands your personal situation.
All these services are available to people with a broad range of accessibility needs, including women with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from different cultures or language backgrounds. There are a range of groups and services that will listen to you, give you advice and can connect you with other services you might need.
DVConnect Womensline
Phone: 1800 811 811 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day)
DVConnect is a statewide domestic violence phone service that offers free, professional assistance such as counselling, transport and emergency accommodation for women in danger from a violent partner or family member.
They offer confidential crisis support, advice and referrals for women, who are experiencing DFV. It doesn’t matter what your disability is, your ethnic background, religion or age.
WWILD
Phone: (07) 3262 9877 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm)
WWILD is a Queensland support service for women with intellectual or learning disabilities who have experienced sexual abuse or have been victims of crime. They offer victims of crime support, counselling and access to women’s groups who meet regularly.
1800RESPECT
Phone: 1800 737 732 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day)
1800RESPECT is a national sexual assault and DFV counselling service. They provide support and information for women with disability.
Read more about the support they can provide you.
The Sunny app
Sunny is 1800RESPECT's app for women with disability. It includes information and support for if you have experienced violence and abuse. Sunny is free to download and use on your smartphone.
Watch a short video about Sunny.
Find support near you
Specialist DFV services (funded by the Queensland Government) are located across the state.
Find DFV support services near you.
Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
The support you receive should be culturally appropriate for your needs.
Gallang Place
Phone: (07) 3899 5041 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm)
Email: web-enquiry@gallangplace.org.auGallang Place provides culturally appropriate counselling and support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including when it relates to family conflict and violence, and dealing with sexual, emotional, spiritual, cultural or physical abuse.
Victim Assist Queensland
Phone: 1300 546 587 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Email: firstnationspeople@justice.qld.gov.auVictim Assist Queensland (VAQ) help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of violent crime (including DFV).
VAQ’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers can help you understand your rights as a victim, apply for financial assistance or connect you to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal service.
Support for women from different cultures and language backgrounds
The support you receive should be easy for you to understand and culturally appropriate for your needs.
AMPARO Advocacy
Phone: (07) 3354 4900
Email: info@amparo.org.auAMPARO Advocacy supports people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. They provide advocacy in a way that respects and meets your language, cultural and religious needs.
AMPARO Advocacy can help you find and access a suitable DFV service.
Immigrant Women’s Support Service
Phone: (07) 3846 3490
Email: mail@iwss.org.auImmigrant Women’s Support Service (IWSS) offers free confidential support to immigrant and refugee women from non-English speaking backgrounds (and their children) who have experienced DFV and/or sexual violence.
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Find a disability advocate
An advocate is someone who can speak up for you and your human rights. They can help you understand the steps you can take and can support you in taking action. A disability advocate may or may not also have a disability themselves.
These disability advocacy organisations can help you find and access suitable DFV services.
There are many disability advocacy organisations in Queensland. We list some of them below.
You may also find one in your local area.
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated
Phone: (07) 3844 4200 or 1300 130 582 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI) supports people with disability to protect and defend their welfare. You must have—or have been diagnosed with—a mental illness, intellectual disability, cognitive impairment, acquired brain injury or profound physical disability to get help from them.
QAI can help you find and access a suitable DFV service.
For women from different cultures and language backgrounds
AMPARO Advocacy
Phone: (07) 3354 4900
Email: info@amparo.org.au
AMPARO Advocacy supports people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. They provide advocacy in a way that respects and meets your language, cultural and religious needs. AMPARO Advocacy can help you find and access a suitable DFV service.
For older women with disability
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia
Phone: 1800 818 338 (Freecall) or (07) 3637 6000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm)
Email: info@adaaustralia.com.au
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia) provides advocacy services to older people and people with disability in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities across Queensland. Their services are free and confidential.
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Make a safety plan
A safety plan is something you can do to keep yourself safe when you are unsafe or at risk of harm or danger due to DFV. It is a personal, practical plan to improve your safety if you want to remain in your relationship—or if you want to leave (or have already left).
A safety plan for women with disability should be developed with both a disability and DFV support service, because if you have issues with communication, limited mobility or special care requirements, extra planning and support is needed.
Safety plans are developed by DFV professionals and disability services with disability-specific expertise. They can contribute their expertise to help you create a safety plan that will ensure you have a plan that suits your particular needs.
1800RESPECT
Phone: 1800 737 732 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
1800RESPECT has helpful information for women with disability about how to create a safety plan. You can phone them or read their information on safety planning for people with a disability.
DVConnect Womensline
Phone: 1800 811 811 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
DVConnect Womensline has helpful information on creating a safety plan. It doesn’t matter what your disability is, your ethnic background, religion or age, DVConnect can provide information about how a safety plan can be developed that is specific to your disability.
Find a service near you
Specialist DFV services (funded by the Queensland Government) are located across the state.
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Find a safe place to stay
It is important that you can safely leave a situation where you are experiencing DFV and get the right help and support.
A safe place to stay is an important step in making sure you are safe and protected, away from a person who may be scaring you, controlling you, or hurting you.
DVConnect Womensline
Phone: 1800 811 811 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
DVConnect Womensline is a statewide DFV phone service that offers free, professional assistance, such as emergency accommodation, for people in danger from a violent person or family member.
How to access a women’s shelter
Women’s shelters (sometimes called refuges) provide a safe and secure place to stay for women and children escaping DFV.
You can arrange access to a shelter by contacting DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811.
Shelters to accommodate women with high mobility needs are also available.
How to find an emergency place to stay
If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless because you are experiencing DFV, there are services that can help.
Homeless Hotline
Phone: 1800 474 753
The Homeless Hotline is a phone information and referral service for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness.
They provide information about where you can find support, accommodation, meals and showers. You may also be referred to other services who can give you more help.
Ask Izzy
Ask Izzy is a website where you can search for nearby shelters, housing, food, healthcare and homeless information.
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Protect your children
There are ways that you can protect your children from DFV and many ways you can get help for them.
DV Connect Womensline
Phone: 1800 811 811 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
DVConnect Womensline is a statewide DFV phone service who give advice on how to help your children recover from a DFV situation.
Family and Child Connect
Phone: 13 FAMILY (13 32 64)
Family and Child Connect helps families care for and protect their children at home by connecting them to the right service at the right time. It is a free, confidential service and they have access to interpreters.
Family and Child Connect can provide:
- information and advice
- access to other support services
- a more detailed needs assessment and support referral.
They can visit you at home or at another place that is convenient and safe.
Victim Assist Queensland
Phone: 1300 546 587 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Email: victimassist@justice.qld.gov.au
Victim Assist Queensland (VAQ) provides free support for young victims and witnesses of crime and DFV. They provide information on youth support services, government agencies who can help and other specialist support.
Other people who can help
You can also speak with doctors, nurses and teachers about how you can access support or services for your children if you are experiencing DFV.
Find out more about what to do if children are involved.
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Find a safe place for your pets
If you want to leave a relationship, your partner or the place you are living because of DFV, you may not want to leave your pets behind—but it may be difficult to take your pets with you.
The RSPCA Queensland and DVConnect's Pets in Crisis DFV program provide temporary care of animals with trained volunteer foster carers.
The RSPCA will provide care and assessment for animals needing vaccines and basic assistance before they find a foster home. You will need to pay for any treatments for your pet and payment plans can be discussed with the RSPCA.
People who need to stay in DFV refuges and can’t find care for their pets can phone DVConnect on 1800 811 811 to arrange pet accommodation.
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Learn how to use technology safely
In DFV situations, technology-based abuse is sometimes used as a way of controlling the person being abused. This could include monitoring calls and internet usage and using tracking software to check where you are.
Accessing DFV websites
If you are looking at websites about DFV, there should be a ‘quick exit’ or ‘close this site’ button that you can click to quickly shut the website and open a new window showing the Google homepage.
This is helpful if someone comes up and looks over your shoulder, but it doesn’t stop the website from being logged in your browsing history. There is information on how to browse safely online using a computer, tablet or smartphone.
Identifying technology-based abuse
The eSafety Commissioner provides information for women to help them identify if they are experiencing technology-based abuse and guidance on what can be done to minimise access to data and personal information.
There are also helpful instructional videos that step through how to change settings on your devices to increase your privacy and safety.
Using technology safely
Learn more about using technology safely, including:
- websites and online browsing
- managing accounts and passwords
- phone calls and text messages
- social media
- location services, GPS and bluetooth
- other devices, including smart watches and voice-controlled smart home hubs or speakers.
Smartphone tracking and spyware
Most modern mobile phones and devices, including tablets, can be used to track the user’s location. Someone else may be able to install tracking and spyware applications without the user’s knowledge or consent. These apps use the mobile device’s GPS or wi-fi data to relay tracking information to the person that installed it.
There are even some applications that allow another person to remotely monitor other private information, such as calls, texts, emails, websites visited, and photos taken using the device.
Removing or changing the SIM card does not stop any tracking applications.
Read more about what to do if you think there is a security issue with your mobile phone or device.
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Get help with money
If you have been a victim of DFV, you may need help with money.
Before making any changes to your bank accounts, it is important to have a safety plan in place.
1800RESPECT
Phone: 1800 737 732 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
1800RESPECT provides support and information for women with a disability who experience DFV. Read more about the support they can provide you.
Services Australia (Centrelink)
The Australian Government has a payments and service finder that can help you understand what payments and services you may be able to get.
You may be eligible to receive a crisis payment from Services Australia if you have experienced DFV.
Women’s Legal Service Queensland
Phone: 1800 957 957 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm)
Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) provide free financial assistance for women.
They have a series of videos about financial abuse that can help you understand what it is and what you can do to get financial independence.
Victim Assist Queensland
Phone: 1300 546 587 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Email: victimassist@justice.qld.gov.au
Victim Assist Queensland (VAQ) helps people who experience DFV in Queensland. This may include helping you get financial help and referring you to other agencies for emotional and other support.
National Debt Helpline
Phone: 1800 007 007 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm)
Web chat is also available 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. For your safety, there is a ‘quick exit’ option to quickly end and delete the web chat.
The National Debt Helpline (NDH) provides advice about money. This includes information about:
- what financial abuse is
- support for victims of DFV who experience financial abuse.
The NDH can put you in touch with a financial counsellor in your area. This is a free and confidential service.
Financial counsellors can talk to you about your money situation. They may:
- give you options and advice on how you can manage bills or debts
- look for financial assistance to support you to leave a DFV situation
- provide information on the ways you can protect your money in the future.
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Make a police report
Domestic and family violence
If you think you are experiencing DFV and you are in immediate danger, phone Triple Zero (000) and ask for the police.
If there is not an emergency right now, you can report DFV to the police by phoning Policelink on 13 14 44. You can also make a non-urgent report of DFV.
Sexual violence and abuse
If you have been recently sexually assaulted and are in immediate danger, get to a safe place and phone Triple Zero (00.
If you are out of immediate danger, you can contact the Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120 for counselling and referral. They are available 7 days a week, 7.30am to 11.30pm.
They have telephone support and counselling for any Queenslander who has or thinks they may have been sexually assaulted or abused, regardless of disability, age, gender, religion, or ethnicity. This includes those who are concerned someone they care about might have been assaulted or abused.
If you do not want to make a formal report to police, but you do want to tell them about your assault, you can use the alternative reporting option (ARO). This means there won’t be an investigation, but the information you give may be used to help identify people who assault other people and prevent them from assaulting others in future.
Read more about reporting sexual violence to the police.
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Get legal help
DVConnect Womensline
Phone: 1800 811 811 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day)
DVConnect Womensline is a 24-hour statewide DFV phone service that offers free professional assistance, such as counselling, intervention, transport and emergency accommodation, for people in danger from a violent partner or family member.
Legal Aid Queensland
Phone: 1300 651 188
Legal Aid Queensland provides legal help to financially disadvantaged people about criminal, family and civil law matters, including DFV.
They can give you information about services you may need and how to get legal support by phone or face to face at one of their 14 offices or community access points across Queensland.
Community Legal Centres Queensland
Phone: (07) 3392 0092
Community Legal Centres Queensland provide free or low-cost legal services. They can help you find your nearest community legal centre or a centre that specialises in a particular area of law, including DFV.
Queensland Law Society
Phone: 1300 367 757 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm)
The Queensland Law Society (QLS) can help you find a solicitor or law firm, which you will have to pay to use. The find a solicitor tool on the QLS website allows you to search by area of law and location.
Women’s Legal Service Queensland
Phone: 1800 957 957 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm)
Women’s Legal Service Queensland provide free legal assistance for women.
Help to understand court processes
Domestic and family violence court support
Various services across Queensland provide support to help people understand, access and go through domestic and family violence (DFV) court processes.
For further information, go to the Queensland Government’s local support finder. In the ‘Filter by service type’ dropdown menu, choose ‘DFV court support’ to see a list of organisations that provide this service.
Other resources
Queensland Courts explain the court process for applying or responding to domestic violence orders. There are videos in Auslan and different languages: Arabic, Mandarin, Persian/Farsi, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.
Legal Aid Queensland provides information about how to prepare for a court appearance and what to expect on the day, including who will be in the room and where they are positioned.
Legal help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service
Phone: 1800 012 255 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) is a community-based organisation that provides professional and culturally appropriate legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are victims of family violence.
Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service
Phone: 1800 887 700 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm)
Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS) provide culturally appropriate legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are victims of family violence. Contact QIFVLS for more information about how they can help you.
Community Legal Centres Queensland
Phone: (07) 3392 0092
Community Legal Centres Queensland provide free or low-cost legal services, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have experienced domestic and family violence. They can help you find your nearest community legal centre or a centre that specialises in a particular area of law.
Help to understand court processes
Queensland Courts provide information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women about domestic violence orders and going to court.
Legal help for women from different cultures and language backgrounds
Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS)
Phone: (07) 3846 9333
Email: admin@rails.org.au
Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS) provides free legal assistance in immigration and refugee law to people in Queensland.
If you have applied for a partner visa and you are experiencing domestic and family violence, you may be able to leave your relationship and still be granted permanent residency. Make sure you get legal advice to understand your options.
Women’s Legal Service Queensland
Phone: 1800 957 957 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm)
Women’s Legal Service Queensland provide free legal assistance for women, including women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Help to understand court processes
Queensland Courts explain the court process for applying or responding to domestic violence orders. There are videos in Auslan and different languages: Arabic, Mandarin, Persian/Farsi, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.