Emergency Accommodation options in Australia for people experiencing family or domestic violence and/or at risk of homelessness.

1. Emergency accommodation options in each state

1.1 Queensland

1.2 New South Wales

1.3

2. How to access emergency accommodation

3. Eligibility and conditions required to access emergency accommodation

4.Commonly asked questions and answers

5. Emergency pet care assistance

ACT

A list of domestic violence crisis accommodation services in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) along with contact information and a brief description of what they offer:  

1. Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS)   • Phone: (02) 6280 0900 (24/7 Crisis Line) • Website: www.dvcs.org.au • Services: DVCS provides emergency accommodation, support, and advocacy for people experiencing domestic violence. They offer a 24-hour crisis intervention service, crisis accommodation referrals, and assistance in getting legal protection.  

2. Toora Women Inc.   • Phone: (02) 6247 2399 (Administration) • Crisis Accommodation Intake: (02) 6247 1311 • Website: www.toora.org.au • Services: Toora provides crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence, including safe housing, case management, and outreach support.  

3. Beryl Women Inc.   • Phone: (02) 6247 8191 • Website: www.beryl.org.au • Services: Beryl offers safe accommodation and holistic support for women and children escaping domestic violence. Their services include case management, advocacy, and referrals for housing, health, and legal assistance.  

4. YWCA Canberra – Mura House   • Phone: (02) 6175 9900 • Website: www.ywca-canberra.org.au • Services: YWCA Canberra operates Mura House, a program providing safe housing for women and children in crisis. They also offer support services, referrals to community services, and long-term accommodation pathways.  

5. Inanna Inc.   • Phone: (02) 6232 6500 • Website: www.inanna.org.au • Services: Inanna provides accommodation and support services for women, including those affected by domestic violence. Their program includes transitional housing and case management to help women rebuild their lives.  

6. Canberra Community Law - Street Law   • Phone: (02) 6218 7900 • Website: www.canberracommunitylaw.org.au • Services: While not specifically an accommodation provider, Street Law offers legal services and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness, including those escaping domestic violence. They can help connect clients with accommodation and legal protections.  

7. OneLink Canberra   • Phone: 1800 176 468 • Website: www.onelink.org.au • Services: OneLink provides information and referrals to crisis accommodation and support services for people facing homelessness or domestic violence in the ACT. They can connect people with safe accommodation options and support networks.

  8. Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC)   • Phone: (02) 6247 2525 (24/7 Support Line) • Website: www.crcc.org.au • Services: CRCC offers crisis intervention and short-term accommodation referrals for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. They provide counselling, advocacy, and support for those seeking safety and security.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Crisis accommodation services in the Northern Territory, along with their contact details and what they offer:  

1. Dawn House Inc. (Darwin) • Phone: (08) 8945 1388 • Website: Dawn House • Services: Provides emergency shelter, counselling, and outreach services for women and children escaping domestic violence  .

2. Catherine Booth House (Darwin) • Phone: (08) 8981 5928 • Services: Shelter operated by the Salvation Army for women and children escaping violence .

3. YWCA Domestic and Family Violence Centre (Palmerston) • Phone: (08) 8932 9155 • Services: Offers crisis accommodation, case management, and outreach support for women and children escaping domestic violence  .

4. Katherine Women’s Crisis Centre • Phone: (08) 8972 1332 • Services: Provides crisis accommodation, counselling, and outreach services for women in Katherine .

5. Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter (DAIWS) • Phone: (08) 8945 2284 • Services: Offers 24-hour shelter and support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women .

6. Miyalk Crisis Accommodation (Nhulunbuy) • Phone: (08) 8987 1166 • Services: Crisis accommodation for women and children experiencing domestic violence, with a focus on confidentiality, cultural respect, and participation .

7. Yuendumu Safe House • Phone: (08) 8956 4138 • Services: Safe house providing emergency shelter and support for those escaping domestic violence in Yuendumu .  

NEW SOUTH WALES

A list of crisis accommodation and support services for domestic violence in New South Wales (NSW), including their contact details and what they offer:  

Domestic Violence Line (NSW Government) • Phone: 1800 656 463 (24/7 service) • Website: DCJ Domestic Violence Line • Services: Provides 24/7 crisis counselling, referral to shelters, emergency accommodation, and support services for women and children experiencing domestic violence.

1800RESPECT (National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service) • Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7 service) • Website: 1800RESPECT • Services: Offers confidential counselling and referral for domestic violence and sexual assault, with connections to emergency accommodation services nationwide.

Start Safely (NSW Government) • Phone: 1800 422 322 (Housing Contact Centre) • Website: Start Safely • Services: Financial assistance for families leaving violence, helping them access private rental accommodation.

Can help you find safe and affordable place to rent, pay some of you rent for up to 3 years and assist with education and employment options (www.nsw.gov.au)

NSW Sexual Violence Helpline (Full Stop Australia) • Phone: 1800 424 017 (24/7 service) • Website: Full Stop Australia • Services: Offers 24/7 counselling and support for survivors of sexual violence, with connections to crisis accommodation.

QUEENSLAND

Qld role of IHR ??

MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What are the conditions of emergency accommodation?

Are there age restrictions of children in refuge and the number of family members?

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?

Help with Emergency Accommodation

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

Set out below are details of how you can get for emergency accommodation on an Australian State by State basis

Emergency accommodation - Accessing safe accommodation in an emergency

There are services that can help if you are worried about where you will live, or how to pay your mortgage or rent.

Women’s shelters

Women's shelters (sometimes called refuges) provide safe and secure accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence in their homes or community.

How to access emergency accommodation:

There are organisations that can provide you with information about emergency accommodation if you are homeless, escaping violence, or need a meal, shower, and clothing.

Who

What does it look like

What are the rules (ages, visitors, smoking, drink, tracking devices etc)

Whatabout the animals

What about the kids

Will there be supplies there

How long will I have to stay?

What if I am renting and I have to quickly leave the rental property?

If you are in a rental property and can no longer safely stay at home you can vacate immediately and end your interest in the tenancy by providing the property manager/owner with seven days notice.

You can do this by giving your property manager/owner:

Queensland: Notice ending tenancy interest (domestic and family violence) (Form 20) - Qld versus other states including any relevant evidence.

Tenants Queensland provides free statewide advice and service for tenants on 1300 744 263.

For more information contact the Residential Tenancies Authority on 1300 366 311.

NSW

Vic

If you are living in public housing

If you are worried the violence you are experiencing is going to affect your tenancy, or you need immediate help to access and maintain safe housing, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre - LINK

There are protections in place to help keep you safe if you are living in public housing, such as:

You can vacate the property immediately.

You won’t be responsible for costs for property damage caused due to DFV or goods left behind.

You can also change the locks without consent.

If you have a mortgage

If you are paying a mortgage and you need to leave the property but are worried about what this means for your mortgage payments it is best to contact your bank. Many banks have staff available to talk confidentially with you about your mortgage options.

WHat if I have to leave quickly - how do I get my belongings back safely

If you need to go back to your home to collect your belongings and don’t feel safe, you can contact a Policelink Client Service Officer by calling 131 444.

You may need legal advice.

There are a number of existing services who you can contact for advice and information:

Legal Aid Queensland 1800 957 957

Women’s Legal Service Queensland 1800 957 957

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Legal Service Queensland 1800 012 255

Legal Service on 07 3124 7160

Community Legal Centres Queensland 07 3392 0092