Support Services

If you or someone you are with is in immediate danger call 000.

If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, support is available Australia-wide.

Sexual Assault Support Services

If you or someone you know are experiencing homelessness, support is available Australia-wide.

Homelessness Support Services

Crisis Support

Lifeline

Lifeline is a national charity that provides 24hr access to crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Phone: 13 11 14
Or visit  Lifeline’s crisis support chat service

lifeline.org.au

 

Kids Helpline

Australia’s only free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. 

Phone: 1800 551 800

kidshelpline.com.au

 

13YARN

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters to yarn to. Available 24/7.

Phone: 13 92 76

13yarn.org.au

Depression or Anxiety

Beyond Blue

National information and support service for those experiencing anxiety and depression. You can access immediate support by calling 24/7, chatting online 3pm to midnight 7 days a week, emailing or joining the online community chat forums.

Phone: 1300 22 46 36

beyondblue.org.au

 

SANE Australia

Mental health information and referral service that supports the mental health of Australians suffering from complex mental illness. 

Phone: 1800 18 7263

sane.org

 

Headspace

Headspace are a nation-wide mental health service provider providing mental health support services to young people aged 12-25. Contact eHeadspace for online counselling. Visit their website to find your closest headspace centre.

headspace.org.au

 

Black Dog Institute

The Black Dog Institute provides a 24 hour free mobile phone/computer-based programme to assist those with mild to moderate depression, anxiety and stress.

mycompass.org.au

 

Blue Knot Foundation

Telephone counselling for adult survivors of childhood trauma, their friends, family and the health care professionals who support them.
Counselling services are available between 9am-5pm.

Phone: 1300 657 380

blueknot.org.au

Domestic Abuse and Violence

1800 Respect

1800 RESPECT is a 24 hour phone and online counselling service to assist people who have been or who are affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Phone: 1800 737 73

1800respect.org.au

 

Safe Steps

Safe Steps is a state-wide Family Violence Response Centre with 24/7 service for women and children experiencing violence. They provide immediate support, information, advocacy, referral and emergency accommodation.

Phone: 1800 015 188

safesteps.org.au

 

African Family Services

African Family Services (AFS) is a specialist service organisation established to serve the African-Australian community in Victoria. AFS provide community capacity building, outreach and case management support, family violence support, a career planning and professional development platform, alcohol and drug awareness training and other training packages.

Phone: (03) 9602 5046

africanfamilyservices.org.au

 

Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE)

WIRE are a state-wide free information, support and referral service for women, non-binary and gender-diverse people.
Telephone counselling is available 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Online support chat is available 11am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Phone: 1300 134 130

wire.org.au

 

Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)

CASA service centres provide help to women experiencing sexual assault across Victoria. The Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line (after hours telephone service) provides 24 hour support to women in need. 

Phone (Victoria): 1800 806 292

casa.org.au

 

Djirra

Djirra provides both telephone and face to face legal and non-legal support to Aboriginal people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.

Phone: 1800 105 303
Abbotsford: (03) 9244 3333
Warrnambool: (03) 5562 5755
Bairnsdale: (03) 5153 2322
Mildura: (03) 5021 3200

djirra.org.au

 

Child Abuse Prevention Service

24/7 family support, abuse prevention and community education services.
State specific contact phone numbers for reporting abuse is available online. 

Phone: 1800 688 009

capsau.org

 

Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline

A dedicated phone line for Aboriginal victims of crime who would like information on victim’s rights and how to access counselling and financial assistance.

Phone: 1800 019 123

 

Australian Childhood Foundation

Counselling for children and young people affected by abuse. 

Phone counselling services: 1800 176 453
General enquiries: 03 9874 3922

childhood.org.au

 

National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline

An Australia-wide telephone hotline for reporting abuse and neglect of people living with a disability. 

Phone: 1800 880 052

jobaccess.gov.au/complaints

 

inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence

Works with women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who are victim/survivors of domestic violence. The service has a pool of bilingual and bi-cultural workers who provide assistance and information for women and children escaping domestic violence.
Available 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (03) 9413 6500
Toll Free: 1800 755 988

intouch.org.au

 

Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women’s Service

Seeks to promote social justice and equity for Aboriginal women and children experiencing Family Violence in the community.

Phone: 9482 5744

emhaws.org.au

 

Safe Relationships Project

Provides men and women who are experiencing domestic violence in same sex relationships with support, advocacy, referral and legal information.

Phone: 1800 244 481

iclc.org.au/safe-relationships-project

 

Rainbow Door

A free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. This service is run by Switchbord Victoria.
Operational hours are 10am – 5pm, every day.

Phone: 1800 729 367
Text: 0480 017 246

rainbowdoor.org.au

 

With Respect

A family violence and intimate partner violence service supporting LGBTIQ+ communities and their families. WithRespect offers a service model which can respond to both the person impacted by violence and the person using violence.

Phone: 1800 LGBTIQ (1800 542 847)

withrespect.org.au

 

Another Closet

Provides information and support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer People (LGBTIQ) experiencing domestic and family violence.

anothercloset.com.au

 

Drug and Alcohol

Counselling Online

Counselling Online is a free, national assistance service for people concerned about their drinking or drug use. The services are also available for people concerned about a family member, relative or friend.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Phone: 1800 888 236

counsellingonline.org.au

 

Quitline

Information on how to quit smoking.
Available 7am – 10.30pm Mon to Fri; 9am – 5pm weekends and public holidays.

Phone: 137 848 or 131 848

quit.org.au

 

Family Drug Support

24/7 information and referral service, supporting families affected by alcohol and other drugs in Australia. 

Phone: 1300 368 186

fds.org.au

Health

1800 My Options

A free, confidential service providing information about contraception, pregnancy options and sexual health in Victoria.
Available 10am-4pm Monday to Friday. Closed public holidays.

Phone: 1800 696 784

1800myoptions.org.au

Legal Support

Community Legal Centres

Community Legal Centres (CLC) are independent, non-profit, community-based organisations that provide free and accessible legal and related services to the public, focusing on the disadvantaged and people with special needs.

CLCs provide a range of services including information, referral, legal advice, non-legal support, duty lawyer services, and casework including representation services.They can link to services who provide advice on Apprehended Violence Orders (AVO’s), family law and financial counselling. Visit the website to find a local CLC.

Phone: (02) 9264 9595

clcs.org.au

 

Women’s Legal Service

Women’s Legal Service Victoria is a state-wide community organisation providing free confidential legal advice, assistance and referral for women. Their services include legal advice telephone line, face to face advice & assistance, casework, court support, interpreter assisted appointments, outreach service and community legal education. 

Phone: (03) 8622 0600 1800 133 302

womenslegal.org.au

Financial Support

Financial Counselling Australia

Provides access to financial counsellors who are non-judgmental, qualified professionals. They provide information, support and advocacy to people in financial difficulty. Working in community organisations, their services are free, independent and confidential. 

Phone: (03) 8554 6979

financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au

Housing

Women’s Housing 

Women’s Housing Ltd can assist women with: rent in advance; rent in arrears; discussing housing options; and advocating on women’s behalf. In some situations Women’s Housing Limited can assist with crisis accommodation, removal costs and purchase of whitegoods.

Phone: (03) 9412 6868

womenshousing.com.au

Seniors Support

Seniors Rights Victoria

Seniors Rights Victoria offers a range of services to support older Victorians experiencing abuse, including advocacy, legal services and community and service provider education. Seniors Rights Victoria is the primary, government-endorsed destination for friends, family members and older Victorians seeking information and support relating to elder abuse. 

Phone: 1300 368 821

seniorsrights.org.au

Relationships

Family Relationships Online

Family Relationships Online provides all families (whether together or separated) with access to information about family relationship issues, ranging from building better relationships to dispute resolution. They also run the Family Relationship Advice Line, a national telephone service established to assist families affected by relationship or separation issues.
Available 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 4pm on Saturdays

Phone: 1800 050 321

familyrelationships.gov.au

 

Relationships Australia

Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. They aim to support all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships.

Phone: 1300 364 277

relationships.org.au

 

The Line

24/7 support for young people in relationships. 

Phone: 1800 MYLINE (1800 695 463)

theline.org.au

 

Q Life

QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.

Phone: 1800 184 527

qlife.org.au

Accessibility Support

Translating and Interpreting Service

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting service provided by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to provide interpreting services for people who do not speak English, and for agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients.
Available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Phone: 131 450

tisnational.gov.au

 

For accessibility support to access services

Contact the National Relay Service (NRS) if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment.

internet-relay.nrscall.gov.au