Get help now
If you are experiencing domestic and family violence there are services that can help.
Call the police on 000
Main support services
If you're experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence there are specialist services that can help.
Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) is a specialist service. DVCS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you in an emergency. They can come to you if the police attend a violent incident.
DVCS also help you safety plan, find somewhere to stay or support you to be safe at home.
They can help with legal issues including:
- applying for Family Violence Orders
- preparing victim impact statements
- giving evidence in court.
DVCS also has programs for young people and support groups for women.
If you need support from other services DVCS can help you find them.
DVCS is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call 02 6280 0900, email crisis@dvcs.org.au (during business hours) or visit Domestic Violence Crisis Service.
1800RESPECT
1800RESPECT is confidential. You can get free counselling, information and support if you are experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
1800RESPECT is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.
YWCA Domestic Violence Support Service
The YWCA Domestic Violence Support Service is a free and confidential service. They help women and children impacted by domestic and family violence. You can get information and advice to help you stay safe.
You can also get help to understand your legal options, including applying for a Family Violence Order. If you need support from other services, the YWCA can help you find them.
Call 02 6185 2000, email respect@ywca-canberra.org.au or visit the YWCA.
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre can help you if you have experienced sexual violence. This includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, child sexual assault or sexualised behaviour. It doesn’t matter if the violence happened recently or a long time ago.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women can get culturally sensitive support through the CRCC Nguru Program.
CRCC are available 24 hours if you are dealing with the police, criminal justice system or the health system.
Call 02 6247 2525, message 0488 586 518 or visit Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.
Toora Women Inc.
Toora supports women experiencing domestic and family violence with practical and personal support. You can get help if you need somewhere safe to stay or other counselling services.
Call Toora’s domestic violence and homelessness services on 02 6247 2399 or the counselling service on 02 6122 7070. You can email TooraAdmin@toora.org.au or visit Toora Women Inc.
Doris Women's Refuge Inc
Doris helps women and children experiencing domestic violence. They provide supported accommodation through a OneLink referral. You can also get advice, information and referrals to other services you need.
Call 02 6278 9999, email women@doris.org.au
Beryl Women Inc
Beryl is a service for all women, with or without children, experiencing domestic and family violence. Beryl provides culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and women from and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Beryl also provides accommodation through a OneLink referral.
Call 02 6230 6900, email admin@beryl.org.au or visit Beryl Women Inc.
Extra support services
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services is an Aboriginal Community Controlled organisation. It provides a culturally safe, holistic health care service. You can get counselling or join groups for women and men.,
Winnunga Nimmityjah is at 63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah. Call 02 6284 6222, fill in the online form or visit Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.
13YARN
13YARN is a confidential crisis support line. You can yarn one-on-one with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supporters.
13YARN is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 13 92 76 or visit 13YARN.
Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT
The Aboriginal Legal Service is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. It offers culturally safe legal support for Aboriginal families and communities.
You can get help with domestic and family violence and family law issues. They work with mums, dads, grandparents and other family members who are worried about their kids.
Call 02 6120 8810, email canberra@alsnswact.org.au or visit Aboriginal Legal Service.
Women’s Legal Centre ACT
Women's Legal Centre helps women on low incomes with their legal issues, including domestic and family violence.
Aboriginal women run the Mulleun Mura Program and can help Indigenous women and families get legal help.
Call 02 6257 4377 or free call 1800 634 669, fill in the online form or visit Women's Legal Centre.
Canberra Community Law
If you are on a low income, you can get free legal help from Canberra Community Law. Their lawyers can help with domestic and family violence issues, including housing, Centrelink and other legal help.
The Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the ACT.
Call 02 6218 7900, email info@canberracommunitylaw.org.au or visit Canberra Community Law.
Children and young people
Canberra PCYC
Canberra PCYC helps young people and their families. They can help you if there is violence at home. The PCYC can help if you are having trouble finding somewhere to stay. They can also get you support for mental health or drug and alcohol issues.
Call 02 6296 7822, text 0432 637 179, email admin@pcyc.net.au or visit Canberra PCYC.
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline a free and confidential service for 5 to 25-year-olds. They can help you with problems at school or home or anything else worrying you.
Kids Helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is free to call, even from a mobile phone. Call 1800 55 1800, email counsellor@kidshelpline.com.au or visit Kids Helpline to chat online.
Got Your Back
Got Your Back is a group for young people 12 to 25 impacted by domestic and family violence. The group is a safe place to meet and connect with people who have had similar experiences.
Call 1300 364 277, email gotyourback@racr.org.au or visit Got Your Back.
Culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Companion House
Companion House helps adults, children and families who have sought safety in Australia. They can help you get medical treatment, counselling, training, and migration advice. If you need support from other services Companion House can help you find them.
Call 02 6251 4550 or visit Companion House.
Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services (MARSS)
MARSS helps migrants, refugees, asylum seekers with housing, training, emergency help, and advocacy. If you need support from other services MARSS can help you find them.
Call 02 6248 8577 or visit Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services.
Multicultural Hub Canberra
Multicultural Hub Canberra supports new migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. They can help you find counselling and other services to help you. If you need support from other services the Multicultural Hub can help you find them.
The Multicultural Hub is in the Theo Notaras Centre. Call 02 6100 4611, email info@mhub.org.au or visit Multicultural Hub Canberra.
Victim support
Victim Support ACT
Victim Support ACT (VSACT) supports people who have experienced family violence or sexual assault.
You can use VSACT services if you are a victim of crime, a witness, or a family member of a person who has experienced a crime. You don’t have to report the crime to police to get most services.
VSACT provides free counselling, financial help and information about dealing with the police, justice system and courts.
If you need support from other services VSACT can help you find them.
Call 02 6205 2222 or freecall 1800 8222 72, email VictimSupport@act.gov.au or visit Victim Support ACT.
Men's behaviour change
Men’s Behaviour Change Programs help men who use violent and controlling behaviour to change. In the ACT, there are services that specialise in supporting men who use violent or controlling behaviours.
Room for Change
Room4Change is a program for men who want to stop their use of violence and controlling behaviours. Room4Change helps them build healthy and respectful relationships.
Room4Change is 30-week program. It includes individual and group sessions. You can do the program while you stay in your own home. You can also choose to live in a house with other men in the program.
Call 02 6280 0900, email room4change@dvcs.org.au or visit DVCS.
No to Violence
No to Violence helps men who want to change their violence and controlling behaviour.
The Men’s Referral Service is anonymous. You can talk about your behaviour and get advice about services that can help.
The Brief Intervention Service provides counselling sessions over the phone while you are you are waiting to for other support.
Call 1300 766 491 or visit No to Violence.
Menslink
Menslink provides free counselling, volunteer mentoring and education programs. They work with all young men, transgender or non-binary young people aged 10 to 25 years.
Call 02 6287 2226, email info@menslink.org.au or visit Menslink.
EveryMan
EveryMan runs two programs for men wanting to change their violent behaviour.
Working With the Man is a 20-week one-on-one program.
Preventing Violence, Changing Behaviour is a 12-week group program.
EveryMan will support your family and connect them with services to make sure they are safe.
Call 02 6230 6999 or visit Everyman.
Counselling
Relationships Australia Canberra and Region
Relationships Australia works with women, men and families impacted by domestic and family violence.
Women can join their Choice and Change 8-week group program. It is a safe and supportive environment for women who have experienced violence from their partner.
Relationships Australia also runs a specialist domestic and family violence counselling service for couples and families.
Call 1300 364 277 or visit Relationships Australia.
Housing, financial and legal support
Housing and accommodation
You will need a referral for some accommodation and refuge services in the ACT. You can talk to one of the ACT’s domestic and family violence services or OneLink to get a referral.
OneLink
OneLink can connect you to services across the ACT. They help families, young people and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. If you are experiencing domestic and family violence OneLink will talk to you about what you need and what your options are.
You can visit OneLink at Nature Conservation House,153 Emu Bank, Belconnen.
Call 1800 176 468, email info@onelink.org.au or visit OneLink.
Financial abuse
Care Inc
Care can help you in you are experiencing financial hardship, including financial abuse. They provide counselling, legal advice about debt, help with money management and small no-interest loans to pay for household goods and services.
Call 02 6257 1788, email admin@carefcs.org or visit Care Inc.
National Debt Hotline
The National Debt Helpline is a not-for-profit service that helps people tackle their debt problems.
Call 1800 007 007 or visit the National Debt Helpline.
Legal help
Women’s Legal Centre ACT
Women's Legal Centre helps women on low incomes with their legal issues, including domestic and family violence.
Aboriginal women run the Mulleun Mura Program and can help Indigenous women and families get legal help.
Call 02 6257 4377 or free call 1800 634 669, fill in the online form or visit Women's Legal Centre.
Legal Aid ACT
Lawyers in the Legal Aid Family Violence and Personal Protection Unit are available to help you at the ACT Magistrates Court or on the phone. Anyone can use this service, no matter how much they earn or what property they own. Legal Aid’s free Family Advocacy and Support Service can help families who are dealing with family law matters, and who have been affected by family violence.
Call the Family Violence and Personal Protection Unit on 1300 654 314 or the Family Advocacy and Support Service on 02 6243 3411. You can also text Legal Aid on 0427 143 401, email civil@legalaidact.org.au or visit Legal Aid.
Canberra Community Law
If you are on a low income you can get free legal help from Canberra Community Law. Their lawyers can help with domestic and family violence issues, including housing, Centrelink and other legal help.
The Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the ACT.
Call 02 6218 7900, email info@canberracommunitylaw.org.au or visit Canberra Community Law.
Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT
The Aboriginal Legal Service is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. It offers culturally safe legal support for Aboriginal families and communities. You can get help with domestic and family violence and family law issues. They work with mums, dads, grandparents and other family members who are worried about their kids.
Call 02 6120 8810, email canberra@alsnswact.org.au or visit Aboriginal Legal Service.