Domestic and family violence and your visa Where to get help

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If you’re affected by domestic and family violence​, you’re not alone. There is support available, regardless of your visa status.

​In an emergency

You should not hesitate to call emergency services if:

• you, or someone else, is injured and need urgent medical attention
• your life, or the life of a family member, is threatened.
  

Remember in an emergency or life threatening situation, call the police on 000​.

​​​​​​​Getting a protection ​order​​

If you are experiencing domestic and family violence you can apply for a protection order.

Each State and Territory will have specific laws for the making of protection orders. Protection orders made in a specific State or Territory are nationally recognised.

The type of protection order you apply for depends on which State and Territory you are in and may be called a Domestic Violence Order, Family Violence Order, Restraint Order, Personal Protection Order, Intervention Order, Apprehended Violence Order or Family Violence Intervention Order.​​

If you are not in a life-threatening emergency, you can ask the police or your local court about getting a protection order to protect yourself and your family.

Domestic and family violence service providers

There are organisations to help you with counselling, support and advice.

Counselling services and helplines can help you identify what you can do and find the right services or support for you. You don’t have to give your name or any other identifying information, so you can choose to remain anonymous, or to use a fake name. How much information you give is up to you. 

Legal services can provide you with assistance on family court, police and immigration matters. Depending on your financial circumstances and the details of your case, you may be entitled to public funding (also known as legal aid).

Service providers can provide you with assistance with housing, finances, food and medical needs. A list of national and State and Territory providers is provided below.

For free interpreter services, see the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National).

• Website: Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
• Phone: 131 450 (24 hours, 7 days).

For information on Australia’s laws regarding domestic and family violence, sexual assault and forced marriage, and a woman’s right to safety, see the Department of Social Services' Family Safety Pack.

For information about services and support in Australia in many languages, see Beginning a life in Australia.

National support services

Most helplines are free from a landline, payphone and most mobile phones.

You should also know that the phone number will still appear on your phone bill. This means that anyone who can see your phone bill will be able to see that a call was made to the number.

We recommend using any website in private browsing mode where possible. If not, you should clear your browsing history. 

For​​ information​ on ​staying safe online, see online security and our website​.

State and Territo​​ry supp​ort services