Welcome to the Australian DV Hub.
**This website is under construction**
DV Support Hub is part of the Family Counselling Support Network company
which offers Australians health and wellness support no matter who, where and why.
Family Counselling Support Network (FCSN) is a Social Enterprise business which has been developed to help Australians find information more easily, in a more consolidated way, which is highly informative and offers genuine support to help you feel more empowered to make a more informed decision. It's time to make things easier!
The DV Hub, which provides consolidated information on Australian domestic and family violence matters, is just one of the many hubs provided for free through FCSN, to Australians. We acknowledge the support of all our inspirational ambassadors who are helping us to support the health, safety and wellness of so many.
If you have arrived at this hub because you or your loved one or friend is in need of support, we are extremely proud of you. Please know there is love and support for you. You've Got This.
There is never an excuse for abuse.
Meet our Ambassadors
Sabeel Burgess
We are very honoured to have Sabeel Burgess, CEO of Open Haven Ltd, and highly regarded domestic and family violence advocate, as one of our hub's ambassadors. A former high school teacher with 20 years of experience, including working with juvenile offenders, she successfully transformed Open Haven into a highly regarded post-crisis domestic and family violence NFP service provider, empowering over 1000 survivors of domestic violence to realise their goals, offering long term recovery support services such as personalised 'restoration plans' to help survivors become supported and self-sufficient, driving lessons, job preparation, and legal referrals.
Kelly Gurski
With are incredibly honoured to welcome Sergeant Kelly Gurski as an ambassador for the DV hub. Kelly has devoted 30 years to policing, 14 as a domestic and family violence liaison officer. In 2024 she was awarded an Australian Police Medal for her dedication supporting victim-survivors of domestic and family violence and the impact of trauma, violence and abuse on their physical, mental and social wellbeing. Kelly is also an ardent supporter of the charity RizeUp, mother of six and a keen sportswoman who has featured on Adventure All Stars, fundraising for DV.
Domestic & Family Violence Hub- Finally the Support You Need All In One Place!
Emergency Support in Australia
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 000
FOR POLICE AND AMBULANCE HELP
With so many silo service providers offering assistance in Australia, we endeavour to explain their roles, how they interact and how to obtain their assistance for you and your family.
HELP IS AVAILABLE
Emergency Contact Numbers and details of the service providers including 1800RESPECT (the 24 hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line and the use of the free app 'Daisy'
Role of DV Connect for women and men and families
How to access medical emergency support
How to access mental health emergency support
What if I need a translator or interpreter?
We endeavour to update these details on a regular basis as required but please immediately notify us if you believe there is any error in the detail or the service has discontinued.
Emergency Access to accommodation shelters, and how to get help with housing and rental assistance after leaving
How and where to access safe emergency housing and accommodation after leaving a harmful relationship?
What are the emergency accommodation options?
Am I eligible for emergency accommodation?
What are the conditions of emergency accommodation?
Are there age restrictions of children in refuge and the number of family members?
What to do with your pets in an emergency?
How long can you stay in emergency accommodation?
What does emergency accommodation look like?
What do we need to bring to stay in emergency accommodation?
How safe is the emergency accommodation?
Do we have to still pay for emergency accommodation?
What happens after we leave emergency accommodation? What are the options?
Australia-wide Homeless Hotline: 1800 474 753 and how they assist
If living in public housing - how to contact Housing Service Centres in your State to help you vacate public housing properties immediately or report damage or get locks changed.
Applying for housing in a remote indigenous community
Role of RentConnect Advisory Services to help you find and apply for a place to rent in the private rental market
How to leave a rental property due to emergency and not affect your tenancy or remove the perpetrator from the rental agreement
We endeavour to update these details on a regular basis as required but please immediately notify us if you believe there is any error in the detail or the service has discontinued.
Emergency Access to food and other key personal items
How and where to access emergency food items
Are we eligible for emergency access to food?
How long will I be allowed to access emergency food and other personal items?
How to access affordable food and other key personal items after the initial emergency
We endeavour to update these details on a regular basis as required but please immediately notify us if you believe there is any error in the detail or the service has discontinued.
Emergency Access to financial assistance
Am I eligible for financial assistance?
What government financial assistance is available?
How do I apply for financial assistance?
Where do you get the forms from and how to complete the forms?
What if I need help to complete the forms?
What if I don't have Australian residency?
What if I don't have any identification?
How much financial assistance will I get?
How long will I get financial assistance?
How long does it take to get financial assistance?
Can I get child support and how do I apply?
Am I eligible for paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave
Am I eligible for Escaping Family Violence payment?
Am I eligible for the Red Cross Family and Domestic Violence
Am I eligible for the Family and Domestic Violence No Interest Loan (FDV NILs)
What if I can't pay my bills (electricity, gas, phone, water, insurance, fines)? - moneysmart.gov.au
Bank Assistance
Legal Assistance
Rental Assistance
We endeavour to update these details on a regular basis as required but please immediately notify us if you believe there is any error in the detail or the service has discontinued.
What is Domestic and Family Violence?
Domestic Violence refers to violent behaviour between current or former intimate partners - typically where one partner tries to exert power and control over the other, usually through fear. It can include physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, spiritual, economic abuse, stalking, coercive control. We provide detailed information and checklists to help you and your family understand whether you are being subjected to domestic violence and your rights.
Family Violence is a broader terms that refer to violence between family members, which can include violence between family members, which can include violence between current or former intimate partners, as well as act of violence between a parent and a child, between siblings, grandparents and partners etc. Family Violence is the preferred term for violence between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as it covers the extended family and kinship relationships in which violence may occur.
What amounts to Domestic and Family Violence including providing self check lists. (your
Details of the new laws relating to stalking and coercive control and self check lists.
Explain the difference between domestic abuse, family violence and child abuse.
What are 'Red Flags' (warning signs of domestic abuse).
There are often a number of warning signs 'RED FLAGS' that a relationship is or will become abusive.
What are the Red Flags to look out for in a new relationship?
Complete the Quiz
How to help someone if you think they are at risk, what to say and how to respond
SEE
TALK
OFFER SUPPORT
PREVENT
How to help someone you think or know or affected by domestic and family violence.
How to respond to someone experiencing domestic and family violence.
Key signs someone is potentially being abused - physically or emotionally
Key signs someone may be an abuser
Personal reflections from survivors
Business support to help employers and employees
Safety Exit Plan
Whether you are considering leaving or have left, we provide guidance on preparing a safety exit plan in advance.
Keeping your home safe
How to prepare an immediate escape from the home and preparing the children
What to consider and prepare as part of the safety plan
How to help children with their safety plan
What is the safety plan for the pets
Documents and evidence you will need
How to apply for an emergency Family Violence Restraining Order
Please note: the checklists are not exhaustive, to cover every scenario, but will assist you to reduce your risks.
Ongoing security
Technology safety
Online safety and website quick exit button
Spyware on mobile phones, computers, social media, Ipads etc
Tracking, tracking apps, location apps or spyware
Tracking devices on vehicles and other items
Monitoring devices including cameras and recording devices
Social media and email safety
Mail redirection
Bank Account security
Credit rating and financial security
Documents and Records
Passports and personal id
MyGov, medicare and child support
Changing the locks and security cameras
Staying safe at work, school and in public
Other key security suggestions
Co-parenting Challenges & helping the kids
Poor quality co-parenting relationships are commonly associated with negative effects for the victim/survivor and the children. Both divorce and violence-related concerns and experiences will influence cooperating relationships with the former partner.
We provide guidance on:
co-parenting when there are genuine fears for yours and/or the family safety,
how the courts look at what is in the child's best interests when there are safety concerns,
how to remain personally safe during co-parenting,
the appointment of an independent children's lawyers (ICL),
use of counsellors and confidentiality,
Gaining access to medical reports,
Details about family reports,
Supervised access, handover and handover centres,
Evidence gathering -how to gather evidence if required.
how to claim child support and maintenance and obtaining financial support.
how, when and to whom to report safety concerns that have arisen during co-parenting as well as the consequences for intentionally making false allegations about a party
drug and alcohol addictions and the courts view on parenting and testing.
remaining safe with IT and tracking when co-parenting.
use of parenting apps
DV & Workplace Support
We understand it can be very difficult to report domestic and family violence matters to anyone, let alone to your workplace. We discuss how you might do this, why, and how to best manage the process and make an application for domestic violence leave if required.
DV Evidence Gathering
In order to support any claim for domestic or family violence and/or child abuse there needs to be credible evidence. We explain how to do this, what the police and courts require.
DV Police & Legal Processes
There can be some confusion and concern regarding making a complaint, the process, the evidence, the protection and the legal process from beginning to end.
There is also often concern about attending meetings, counsellors, mediators, lawyers etc
We explain how to reduce your risk.
We also explain how the Family Court and DV courts work, explain the forms, timing, attendances, what protection measures the courts have in place etc.
This site is brought to you by Family Counselling Support Network
Book in with one of our professionals today
FAQS
We are here to help
Question 1
Can I contact you directly for help?
Question 2
How has this material been prepared and is it reliable?
Question 3
I have been violent towards my family. I need help. Where can I get it?
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