How could talking to a worker at a service help?

Counsellors can listen to you and give you support, ideas and information on what you could do. A domestic violence service can talk to you about abuse in relationships. A sexual assault or rape crisis service can support you if you have been sexually assaulted or raped by your boyfriend, or by anyone else. Most of these services can talk to you and provide support and information over the telephone, and will refer you to see a counsellor in person if you want to.

You might feel nervous about ringing a service. If so, it might help to ring first with a few questions about who they are and how their service works, before you talk about your situation. You don’t have to give your name, and you can just hang up if you feel uncomfortable. If you want to, the counsellor on the phone can refer you to someone you can talk to face to face. If you are worried that a worker might not keep what you tell them confidential, ask them about their policy on confidentiality.
All services listed below are free.

There are services that provide online counselling or email assistance. They are listed below in the National section.

National Services:

Kids Help Line
Telephone counselling for children and young people. This service also provides support for Australians under 18 years old through email and online counselling. Check out their website for details.
Freecall: 1800 551 800

LifeLine
telephone counselling (general)
Ph: 131 114

Police or Ambulance
Ph. 000 in an emergency for police or ambulance

Translating and Interpreting Service
Phone to gain access to an interpreter in your own language
Ph: 131-450

Lawstuff
Provides a website on the law. If you are from Australia you can email a lawyer for advice about how to use the law in Australia to protect you from violence. See their website for details.

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Services in Victoria:

Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria , 292 Wellington St Collingwood VIC, 3066
We can refer you to a local service that can support you.
Ph: (03) 9486-9866 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. TTY (Hearing Impaired) Ph. 9417-1255

Action Centre 277 Flinders Lane Melbourne
General and sexual assault counselling, referrals and medical services for young people.
Ph. (03) 9654 4766 or country Free Call Ph. 1800 013 952

FrontYard Melbourne Youth Support Services, 19 King Street Melbourne
For information, referral to emergency housing, legal and health services.
Ph. 9611 2411 or FREE call from a landline on 1800 800 531; After hours (5-8pm weekdays and 10am-6pm weekends) ph. 9614-3688. www.frontyard.org

Women's Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE). Melbourne
Information, support and referral for women.
9am – 5pm Mon-Fri. Ph. 1300-134-130

Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service of Victoria
Crisis support, information, referral to safe accommodation (refuge) for women experiencing abuse in their relationships.
24 hrs. Ph. 9373-0123, or Country toll free : Ph. 1800 015 188.

Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)
Crisis support, counselling, and information for people who have been sexually assaulted - either as children or as adults. Ph. 1800 806-292 (24 hours, 7 days). A counsellor will answer your call and help you to find your nearest CASA service.

Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service
For immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence
Mon-Fri 9.30-5.30. Ph. 9413-6800

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New South Wales:

Domestic Violence Line
24hr telephone support and referral .
Ph. 1800 656 463 or TTY: 1800671442

Rape Crisis Centre
Ph. (02) 9819-6565. Country Toll Free Ph. 1800-424-017. TTY: 981 43 49

Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association
For migrant & refugee women who are victims of violence. Counselling, bilingual workers
Mon-Fri 9-5
Ph. (02) 9635-8022

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ACT:

Domestic Violence Crisis Service
24hr telephone counselling, referral.
Ph. (02) 6280-0900 TTY: Ph. (02) 6247-0893

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
(24 hr) Ph. 6247-2525

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Northern Territory:

Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Darwin, 9-5 Mon-Fri Ph.
(08) 8945-6200

Crisis Line
General crisis counselling (24hr)
Ph. 1800 019 116

Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Counselling, support, information, & 24hr crisis care for recent sexual assault
Darwin: Ph. (08) 8951-5884

Ruby Gaea House
Sexual assault counselling service
Mon-Fri 8.30-5.
Ph. (08) 8945-0155

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Queensland:

Domestic Violence Telephone Service
Ph. 1800 811 811 or TTY: 1800 812-225

Statewide Sexual Assault Help Line
1800-010-120

Brisbane Rape & Incest Crisis Centre
Ph. (07) 384-1206 or country callers Ph. 1800 242526

Zig Zag Young Women’s Resource
Brisbane, Mon-Fri 9-5 Ph. (07) 3843-1823

Immigrant Women’s Support Service
Support for immigrant or refugee women victims of domestic violence, bilingual workers
Mon-Fri 9-5. Ph: (07) 3846-3490 (domestic violence) or (07) 3846 5400 (sexual assault)

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South Australia:

Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Telephone and face to face counselling, referral to safe accommodation
1300 782 200 (24 hours)

Domestic Violence Helpline
Telephone counselling & information about services for those affected by abuse or who are troubled by their own behaviour
Ph. 1800 800 098 (24 hrs)

Crisis Care
After hours crisis support (violence and abuse, suicide, child protection etc)
4pm-9am plus weekends & public.hols. Ph. 131 611

Yarrow Place(North Adelaide)
Rape & sexual assault service 9-5 Mon-Fri
Ph. (08) 8226-8777 or 1800 817 421
or call 24hr service for recent sexual assault Ph. 8226-8787

Women’s Information Service of South Australia
Ph. (08) 8303-0590 or 1800 188 158

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Tasmania

Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Moon-Fri 9am-Midnight, weekends 4pm-midnight.
Ph. (03) 6233 2529 or 1800 633 937

Sexual Assault Support Services
Telephone and face to face counselling
Hobart & Southern: Ph. 6231 1811 (24hr – paging service after hours).
Launceston: Ph. (03) 6334-2740. Nth West: Ph. (03) 6431 9711

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Western Australia:

Women’s Refuge Group
Telephone support, referral to safe accommodation
9-5 Mon-Fri. Ph. (08) 9227-1642

Crisis Care Unit
24hr crisis support (violence, child protection, suicide, etc)
Ph. (08) 9325-1111 or 1800 199-008. TTY: (08) 9325-1232

Sexual Assault & Referral Centre
Telephone and face to face counselling, female doctors
24hrs. Ph. (08) 93401828 or 9340 1820 or country callers Ph. 1800 199-888

Women’s Refuge & Multicultural Service
Outreach support for immigrant women who are victims / survivors of domestic violence
Ph.(08) 9325-7716

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Services for men who want to change their violent behaviour:

National - Lifeline Ph. 131 114

Victoria - Men's Referral Service.

3pm-9pm M-F (03) 9685 9814 or 1800 065 973

ACT - Domestic Violence Crisis Service (02) 6280-0900

NSW - Relationships Australia Ph. (02) 9635 9311

Northern Territory - Crisis Line 1800 019 116

Queensland - Men's Info Line 1800 600 636

South Australia 1800 800 088

Tasmania - Centacare. Ph. (03) 6278 1660

Western Australia - Men's Helpline 1800 000 599, or Relationships Australia (08) 9470 5109

USA

See the list of services in the USA on the Feminist Majority Foundation domestic violence crisis line listing

*For organisations that want to add their details to this list, please email us at dvrcv@vicnet.net.au.