Your rights when experiencing family violence
You have the right to be safe. Family violence is not your fault. Aboriginal-specific services exist, and there are protections for women and children leaving a violent home.
Key points
- Aboriginal-specific family violence services exist — Djirra, VACCA, and Safe Steps all have Aboriginal staff
- You can get an Intervention Order against a violent person — Swan Hill CLC can help
- Children are NOT automatically taken if you leave a violent home — tell police you need women's refuge, not child protection
- Crisis accommodation is available for you AND your children
- If you are Aboriginal, you can ask for an Aboriginal worker at every step
- Family violence against men: Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Your rights when experiencing family violence
Family violence is not your fault. No matter what anyone tells you — it is not your fault. You have the right to be safe, and there are services specifically designed to help you.
Aboriginal-specific family violence services
You do not have to go through this alone, and you don’t have to use mainstream services if you don’t want to. Aboriginal-specific services exist:
- Djirra — 1800 342 963 — Aboriginal-specific family violence service for women and children
- VACCA (Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency) — (03) 9280 7800 — can help with children and families
- Safe Steps — 1800 015 188 — has Aboriginal workers available
All these services have Aboriginal staff who understand what you’re going through.
You have the right to crisis accommodation
Crisis accommodation exists for women and children fleeing family violence. When you contact Safe Steps or Djirra, they will help arrange accommodation. This is short-term (usually a few weeks) while longer-term housing is arranged.
Tell them you need women’s refuge accommodation — not child protection. If you’re clear that you’re fleeing violence and need women’s refuge, your children will not automatically be taken. This is important to understand. You can say: “I need women’s refuge. I do not need child protection.”
Intervention Orders — your right to legal protection
An Intervention Order (IO) is a court order that tells the violent person to stay away from you and not contact you. You have the right to apply for one.
Swan Hill CLC can help you apply for an Intervention Order — (03) 5032 1688. VALS can also help with legal matters related to family violence.
If someone is violent towards you, an IO is worth applying for. Even if the violent person doesn’t follow it (they can be charged for breaching it), it creates a legal record.
If children are involved
When you leave a violent home, you do not automatically lose your children to child protection. If you present at a women’s refuge or crisis accommodation and clearly state you need women’s refuge, the situation is treated as a family violence matter — not a child protection matter.
If child protection is involved, you still have rights:
- You have the right to an advocate
- You have the right to a lawyer
- You can ask for an Aboriginal caseworker
- You can contact VACCA to advocate for you
Family violence against men
Family violence happens to men too. If you are a man experiencing family violence:
- Men’s Referral Service — 1300 766 491 — provides phone support and referral for men experiencing family violence
- No judgment — support is available
Your right to refuse police or services
You have the right to say no to police or services you don’t want involved in your situation. However, if you’re in immediate danger, police can help protect you.
You can also ask for an Aboriginal worker at any point in the process.
Key numbers
- 1800 015 188 — Safe Steps (family violence crisis line, 24/7)
- 1800 342 963 — Djirra (Aboriginal family violence service)
- (03) 5032 1688 — Swan Hill CLC
- 1300 766 491 — Men’s Referral Service (for men experiencing family violence)