Family Violence Support

Family violence is when a partner or family member hurts you, or tries to dominate you and control what you do. It can include physical acts and can also include verbal and emotional abuse, such as:

  • Stopping you seeing family or friends.
  • Pressuring, tricking or forcing you to do sexual things.
  • Threatening to hurt you, your kids, family members or a pet.
  • Calling you names or deliberately making you feel bad.
  • Stopping you having any money.
  • Constantly checking where you are, what you’re doing or who you’re talking to.

If you are in immediate danger you should contact Victoria Police by phoning triple zero (000).

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Support Services

1800RESPECT

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This free telephone service is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week.  Trained counsellors will work with you to help you identify what you can do and to find the right services and/or support you need.

Phone: 1800 737 732

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Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre

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Victoria's 24/7 family violence support service.

Phone: 1800 015 188

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GenWest

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GenWest provides services to victims and survivors of family violence by providing social and education programs. GenWest works with organisations to advocate for equal rights and the prevention of family violence across seven local government areas including Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham.

GenWest's Family Violence Service Help Sheet is available in Amharic, Arabic, Dinka, English, Farsi, Hindi, Karen, Somali, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese.  You can download the translated Help Sheet via the GenWest Resources webpage.

Phone: 1800 436 937 or email fvassist@genwest.org.au

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Djirra

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Supports Aboriginal people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.

Phone: 1800 105 303

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Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)

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Available 24/7 and provides face-to-face, telephone and online support services to victim/survivors of sexual assault.

Phone: 1800 806 292

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wirespect

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A family violence and intimate partner violence service supporting LGBTIQ communities and their families.

Phone: 1800 542 847

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InTouch

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Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence: A specialist family violence service that works with multicultural women, their families and their communities.

Phone: 1800 755 988

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Seniors Rights Victoria

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Provides a free helpline for people who are experiencing, or know someone who is experiencing elder abuse.

Phone: 1300 368 821

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Men's Referral Service

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This service from No to Violence offers assistance, information and counselling to help men who use family violence.

Phone: 1300 766 491

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Promoting Gender Equity

Maribyrnong City Council has a long history of undertaking innovative and sector-leading work in the promotion of gender equity and prevention of violence against women.  As the level of government closest to the community, Victorian Councils have a mandate to create healthy, safe and inclusive.

Towards Gender Equity 2030 was launched on International Women’s Day (IWD) 2019 and supports Council to continue to strive for its vision for all people in Maribyrnong to flourish and live free from violence and discrimination and have equal status, rights, opportunities, representation and respect, regardless of their gender.

If you would like to find out more about our work relating to gender equity and the prevention of violence against women, please get in touch via email.