Welcome to the Australian

DV Support Hub.🫂


The DV Support Hub, provides FREE consolidated information on Australian domestic and family violence matters.

It is just one of the many hubs provided for free through Family Counselling Support Network, to Australians. If you, or are family member, are facing family and domestic violence or supporting someone who is, this hub provides information, resources and a guide on how to find support, keep safe, access resources and move forward safely with independence and greater confidence.

We endeavour to keep this information as up to date as possible.

We acknowledge the support of all our inspirational ambassadors and panel members 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.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE RELIED UPON FOR ACCURACY AT THIS STAGE. WE HOPE TO BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 2024

Meet our Ambassadors & Panel Members

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 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.

Susan Crain

Susan is a lawyer, with a background in psychology and counselling. She has worked for over 30 years supporting clients with family law and domestic violence matters. Susan has worked with many community groups including Caxton Legal Centre, Gold Coast Community Legal Centre, Act for Kids, Rize Up, and Open Haven, where she currently sits on the Board of Directors.

Susan is CEO and Founder of Separation Support Network and Family Counselling Support Network.

www.separationsupportnetwork.com

www.familycounsellingsupportnetwork.com

Aaron Schultz


CEO and Founder of The Outback Mind Foundation, a grass roots health promotion and education charity, focused on empowering regional men to take a proactive approach to looking after their mental health and to reduce the risk of men committing acts of domestic and family violence. Aaron's vision is to improve the emotional literacy of more regional men to help them live calm, conscious and connected lives.

The charities, Boiling Point documentary is a very powerful conversation starter shining light on the realities of domestic violence and male mental health, and real life stories of men who have turned their lives around. www.outbackmind.org.au

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)

🫂How to access medical emergency support

🫂How to access mental health emergency support

🫂What if I need a translator or interpreter to get emergency help?

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?

🫂What amounts to Domestic and Family Violence? Checklists to help.

🫂Details of the new Australian laws relating to stalking and coercive control

🫂Explain the difference between domestic abuse, family violence and child abuse

🫂Who can become a victim?

🫂LGBTQ relationships and domestic and family violence

🫂Teen dating violence


Please note: the checklists are not exhaustive, to cover every scenario, but will assist you to reduce your risks.

What are the 'Red Flags' of DV?

(warning signs)

It’s not always easy to tell at the beginning of a relationship if it will become abusive. In fact, many people who are abusive may seem absolutely perfect on the surface — as if they are the dream partner — in the early stages of a relationship. Possessive and controlling behaviors don’t always appear overnight but rather emerge and intensify as the relationship grows. That’s why it’s important to know the red flags of abuse.

There are often a number of warning signs 'RED FLAGS' that a relationship is or will likely become abusive.

🫂What are the Red Flags to look out for in a new relationship?

🫂Complete the Quiz.

🫂Education and programmes

Reporting suspected child abuse

Child abuse can be a single incident or several incidents that take place over time. It may not involve family members.

Child abuse must be reported if a child has suffered significant harm, is suffering significant harm, or is at risk of suffering significant harm.

🫂What is child abuse? How does it differ from domestic and family violence?

🫂How to recognise potential child abuse

🫂What to do if you suspect child abuse

🫂Why you should report child abuse

🫂What to expect after a report is made

🫂Impact of abuse and domestic and family violence on children

How to help someone at risk of DV

SEE

TALK

OFFER SUPPORT
PREVENT

🫂How to help someone you think or know is affected by domestic and family violence

🫂How to respond to someone experiencing domestic and family violence

🫂Key signs someone is potentially being abused

🫂Key signs someone may be an abuser

🫂Personal reflections from survivors

🫂Business support to help employers support employees

🫂Trauma and Counselling support

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

🫂Preparing the children for an escape and departure from home

🫂What to consider and prepare as part of the safety plan

🫂Documents and evidence to take if safe to do so

🫂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.

Emergency Help with Accommodation

🫂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?

🫂Things to take and prepare

🫂Applying for longer term accommodation support

🫂Rent Assist and other government support

  • Watch a video of a refuge and what to expect

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 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?

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.

Ongoing security

🫂Technology safety

🫂Financial safety

🫂Recording evidence

🫂Staying safe at work, school and in public

🫂Other key security suggestions

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.

🫂What can I do if I am a victim of domestic abuse?

🫂What to expect if I make a report?

🫂Urgent versus non urgent applications for a protection order

🫂Understanding the documents and filing

🫂What are the timings of getting protection?

🫂Do I need legal help?

🫂Do I need to go to court?

🫂What if someone lies about DV? What are my rights if falsely accused?

🫂What happens after we get the protection order?

🫂What if they breach the protection order?


Disclaimer:

The information on this webpage is to be read in conjunction with this disclaimer:

Family Counselling Support Network and Separation Support Network makes every effort to provide updated and accurate information to its customers. However due to the continuously changing nature of legislations for the Commonwealth and various States and Territories, it is inevitable that some information may not be up to date. The information on the website is general information only. The contents on the website do not constitute legal or professional advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or professional advice.

While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, suitability, accuracy or availability with respect to the information.

DV Evidence Gathering

In order to support any claim for domestic or family violence and/or child abuse there needs to be credible evidence. It is important to record as much detail as possible (but ensuring you remain safe). The information you gather can potentially be used by policeas evidence.

We explain how to do this, what the police and courts require and what is legally able to be obtained and presented.

Longer term financial independence

  • 🫂Credit scores and credit reports

    🫂Obtaining a loan or refinancing

    🫂Financial counselling

    🫂Getting debt under control

    🫂Career assistance

    🫂Dealing with debt collectors

    🫂Child support and other government assistance

    🫂Financial course and resources

    🫂Legal aid or community legal assistance

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.

Preventing Violence

🫂The Tragic Statistics

🫂Affirmative consent laws

🫂What influences family, domestic and sexual violence? (aihw,gov,au)

🫂Education programmes

🫂Rites of Passage, Role Models and Reconnect programs

🫂Changing the view on masculinity

🫂Pushing for change with child support enforcement
🫂White Ribbon Australia - global social movement

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.

Support for those committing abuse/violence

🫂Am I abusive? Behaviour checklists

🫂Anger management courses

  • 🫂Stress management and resilience courses

    🫂Counselling support and programs

    🫂Support networks

Reclaiming YOU!

Get back your life and find your happier place.

🫂Self care

🫂Women's Wellness Hub www.wellnessmenopausehub.com

🫂Men's Wellness Hub www.menwellnesshub.com.au

  • 🫂Rural Support Hub - www.ruralsupporthub.com

    🫂Counselling, Psychology, Trauma support

    🫂Support networks

    🫂Separation/Divorce support

    🫂Career support

    🫂Future relationships

    🫂Breaking the cycle

DV Blogs

Legal and emotional challenges

Top Tips for Blended Families

October 03, 20247 min read

Blended families

If you are part of a blended family, you know that whilst it can be so wonderful, it can present a unique set of legal considerations and potential relationship challenges.

In family law, a 'Blended family', also known as a stepfamily, is a family unit where at least one child is the biological or adopted child of only one parent, and not both. This usually happens when two separate families come together, often through marriage or de facto relationships.

Approximately 12% of couple families with dependent children were classified as either step-families or blended families in the 2021 Australian Federal Census.

Of these, step-families comprised 8% of all couple families with dependent children (182,229 families), while blended families made up 4% (99,564 families).

Legal tips to consider for Blended Families

When families merge through new relationships, forming a ‘blended family’, a range of unique legal scenarios can arise. Understanding these can help ensure everyone’s rights and responsibilities are upheld.

In Australia, The Family Law Act 1975 sets out the rights and responsibilities of parents and step-parents, including matters related to children’s living arrangements, financial support, and decision-making.

Additionally, state and territory laws may also apply in specific situations.

While the fundamental principles of family law remain consistent between a traditional and blended family, their application can vary in blended families:

-       Step-parent generally don’t have the same automatic parental rights as biological parents. However, if you live with your stepchildren and their parent, you have a responsibility to care for them as you would your own children. This includes providing for their basic needs, ensuring their safety and well-being and contributing generally to their upbringing. It may, in some instances, also include financial obligations.

-       Parental rights in a blended family are usually primarily based on what is in the best interests of the child (as required for a traditional family).

-       While biological parent’s parental rights and responsibilities are clearly defined under The Family Law Act (custody, decision making and financial support) these rights can be recognised by the Family Courts if the step-parent has been a very significant caregiver or if there are formal agreements made between the biological parents and the step-parent through court orders or agreements.

-       Step-parents may need to seek court orders for parental responsibility or establish their standing through de facto relationships.

Child Support Payments and Blended Families

-       In most cases, the amount of child support that a person or their former partner is liable to pay will not change if they remarry or enter into a new relationship. You should however carefully check with child support as it is a complex calculation.

-       A parent can successfully change their child support assessment by showing special circumstances for example if they are supporting other children (it will potentially reduce their capacity to pay child support).

-       If you have an existing child support agreement and your family situation changes due to a new relationship, it’s important to review and potentially update the agreement.

-     If the child's birth mother remarries and her new partner wants to adopt the child, the birth parents are usually responsible for raising the child. The new stepfather is not liable for children who are not his biological children, and the biological parent may still be required to make regular child support contributions.

Adopting a step-child

-     One of the most significant legal steps that a step-parent can take is to adopt their step-child. This is a complex process that involves a number of legal steps, but it can provide many benefits for both the child and the step-parent. Adoption gives the step-parent legal recognition as the child’s parent and provides them with the same rights and responsibilities as a biological parent.

-     There are different laws and rules of eligibility that need to be complied with in order to adopt. You should seek legal advice.

Wills & Estates for Blended Families

When someone with a blended family passes away and leaves their entire estate or a large part of it to some family members, but not to others, it can put their estate at risk of an excluded family member(s) can legally challenge the distribution of the deceased person's assets.

Family members who are not adequately provided for in a Will are often entitled and eligible to make a claim against the deceased person's estate, even if they are not blood related.

 

Custody when a blended family relationship breaks down

Custody arrangements in blended families usually rely on the existing custody agreements or orders from previous relationships. The child’s biological or adoptive parents usually hold primary custody rights, determining where the child lives and making major decisions about their upbringing.

However, step-parents can obviously play a significant role in a child’s life, and arrangements for visitation or shared care can still be negotiated or ordered by the court.

These arrangements are often made with the child’s best interests as the paramount consideration. Factors like the child’s age, their relationship with each parent and step-parent, and the stability of each household are all considered. Communicating openly with all parties involved is crucial to create a plan that works for everyone.

 We recommend you seek legal advice in relation to any of these more complex 'blended family' issues.

Key Emotional Challenges of blended family

The first step to improving your blended family problems is to identify if things aren’t blending well. Here are some signs to look out for:

  • Step-siblings don’t get along and there is a lot of fighting or lack of any communication/interraction

  • When jealousy rears its head between the children or even partners and their step child

  • Family gatherings and meal time are tense and uncomfortable

  • When parenting styles don’t align and you cannot agree on rules for the household

  • When the children develop new behavioural issues

  • Your step children wont listen or respect your authority.

  • Your step-children only ask their biological parent for permission and help and don't come to you - or vice versa with your partner.

  • When there is an obvious split in the household rather than a ‘blend’

  

Tips to Resolving Blended Family Problems

Don’t panic. It can take some time and there are strategies you can you take to address the issues you may have mixing your families.

Show a united front

Children will usually be led by their parent’s example and if you and your partner aren’t completely unified, chances are the kids will follow. Make sure that you and your partner put in the effort to stay consistent and act together. Don’t contradict each other’s rules or negate each other’s parenting styles.

It may take a lot of long, even difficult, conversations to get on the same page about the rules and standards you want to put in place for your household. This is an effort that is not only worth making but is absolutely critical to make in order to allow your blended family to truly blend.

Respect the old ways

Transitioning to a blended family can feel very threatening for children who may fear the loss of a previous life that they were attached to. Respect the traditions that you had before to give them more comfort.

Start new family traditions

Find common ground between what both sides of the family like for example pizza night Tuesday and BBQ Sunday. Let your kids take an active part and even lead the way forward so they feel invested in and excited by their family’s future instead of alienated by it.

It won’t just happen overnight

Change takes time. Respect and validate each others feelings, especially the children. Try to have really calm open communication - talk things out openly instead of sweeping them under the rug. You’re all in this together, and the process may understandably take some time to get a happy rhythm.

Family Counselling help

Sometimes family problems go beyond what you can be addressed at home. A Family Counsellor can really assist families to find strategies to work together to resolve issues and find ways to work together and better communicate.

Utilising family dispute mediation services can also be beneficial.   These services provide a supportive and neutral environment for families to discuss and resolve conflicts, with the aim of reaching a mutually agreed outcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

blended familiesadoption of step childwillsfamily willsstep parent willstep child
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