No one deserves to experience abuse. If you’re experiencing coercive control, want to support someone else, or you’re hurting someone you care about – there is help available.
If you're in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for Police.
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Are you experiencing coercive control?
Contact 1800RESPECT by calling 1800 737 732, texting 0458 737 732, or using the online chat. Video call is also available via the website from to 9am to 5pm AEST, Monday to Friday (except national public holidays). No appointment needed.
1800RESPECT can:
- listen to you
- talk about ways to keep you safe
- talk through options and help you decide what information, people or services will be most helpful
- make referrals and connect you with the right services.
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Are you supporting someone else?
Contact 1800RESPECT by calling 1800 737 732, texting 0458 737 732, or using the online chat. Video call is also available via the website from to 9am to 5pm AEST, Monday to Friday (except national public holidays). No appointment needed.
1800RESPECT can:
- provide advice and support if you are worried someone you know might be experiencing coercive control
- talk through options and help you make a plan about how to support someone you care about
- provide information and advice about different support services in your area.
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Are you worried about your behaviour?
Contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 to speak to a trained professional. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
The Men’s Referral Service can:
- listen to you
- provide advice and support
- talk through options and help you decide what steps you want to take next
- make referrals and connect you with the right support services in your area.
This is a free and confidential service. You can remain anonymous.
Specialist support services
Kids Helpline
Call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or chat online to a trained counsellor. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Kids Helpline can provide free and confidential online and phone counselling to young people aged 5 to 25.
Headpsace
Call Headspace on 1800 650 890 or chat online to a trained counsellor. Available 9am to 1am every day.
Headspace can provide in person, online and phone counselling services to young people aged 12 to 25.
Youth Law Australia
Call Youth Law Australia on 1800 950 570. Available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 10am to 4pm.
You can also speak to a lawyer anonymously through live chat. Available Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. Or you can send a webform request for email advice 24 hours a day.
Youth Law Australia can provide free and confidential legal information for young people aged under 25.
Mandatory reporting for child protection concerns
Professionals like teachers, health care workers, police, counselors and social workers have a legal responsibility to make a report to child protection services if they think someone under 16 is experiencing or are at risk of experiencing abuse. This protection is in place to help keep children and young people safe.
Lawyers are not mandatory reporters. If you would like free and confidential legal advice about your situation, contact Youth Law Australia on 1800 950 570.
First Nations women’s legal contact line
Call (02) 8745 6977 or 1800 639 784 (rural). Available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 12:30pm.
The First Nations women’s legal contact line can provide free and confidential legal information, advice and referrals service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in NSW on:
- domestic violence
- sexual assault
- parenting issues
- family law
- discrimination
- victim’s support.
Brother to Brother
Call Brother to Brother on 1800 435 799. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week. Brother to Brother can provide culturally safe phone support to Aboriginal men who need someone to talk to about:
- relationship issues
- family violence
- parenting
- drug and alcohol issues.
The line is staffed by Aboriginal men, including Elders, who have a lived experience in these issues.
Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT
Call the Aboriginal Legal Service on 1800 733 233 or find your local ALS service.
Aboriginal Legal Service can provide:
- legal advice and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in criminal law, family law and children’s care and protection law
- advice, information, and referral to support services.
Immigrant Women’s SpeakOut association NSW
Call the Immigrant Women’s SpeakOut Association on (02) 9635 8022during business hours or fill out the contact form.
SpeakOut can provide:
- education, information and other direct services to multicultural women within NSW
- referrals and advocacy to multicultural women experiencing domestic violence and homelessness.
Department of Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs Domestic and Family Violence Support team can provide information on immigration matters and support victim-survivors to resolve visa issues.
Complete the Temporary Visa Holder Domestic and Family Violence Contact Form to contact the team.
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre
Complete an enquiry form to contact the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre.
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre can provide:
- free immigration and legal advice to people on a visa experiencing domestic violence
- information and referrals to support services.
Full Stop Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline
Call the Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline at 1800 497 212 to speak to a trained counsellor. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Full Stop can provide:
- support to anyone from the LGBTQIA+ community who has recently or in the past experienced sexual, domestic or family violence
- specialist trauma counselling by professionals who have received training through ACON
- information and referral to other services
- advice to family members, friends and supporters of someone from the LGBTQIA+ community who has experienced sexual, domestic or family violence.
ACON
Say It Out Loud encourages LGBTQIA+ communities to have healthy relationships, get help for unhealthy relationships and support their friends.
It has a Find a Service page to help LGBTQIA+ people find support services that meet their needs.
TransHub is ACON’s digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse people in NSW. Their Our Relationships page provides advice on healthy relationships for trans and gender diverse people.
NSW Ageing and Disability Commission
Call the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission on 1800 628 221. Available Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4pm.
The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission Abuse Helpline provides:
- information and advice for people with disability or their support people
- a hotline for people with disability, their support people or anyone who has worries about a person with disability, to report concerns of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
NSW Ageing and Disability Commission
Call the Ageing and Disability Commission on 1800 628 221. Available Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4pm.
The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission Abuse Helpline provides:
- information and advice for people with disability or their support people
- a hotline for older people, their support people or anyone who has worries about an older person, to report concerns of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Full Stop Australia: National Violence and Abuse Trauma Counselling and Recovery Service
Call the National Violence and Abuse Trauma Counselling and Recovery Service on 1800 385 578 or chat online to speak to a specialist trauma counsellor. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
The National Violence and Abuse Trauma Counselling and Recovery Service provides confidential, trauma specialist counselling for people of all genders who are impacted by violence and abuse, as well as their friends, families and supporters.
NSW Sexual Violence Helpline
Call the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline on 1800 424 017 to speak to a specialist trauma counsellor. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
The NSW Sexual Violence Helpline provides support to anyone in NSW who has experienced sexual assault, as well as their friends, families and supporters.
Women’s Legal Service NSW
Call the Women’s Legal ServiceDomestic Violence Legal Service on (02) 8745 6999 or 1800 810 784 (rural).
Available Monday and Thursday between 1:30pm and 4:30pm, and Tuesday and Friday between 9:30am and 12:30pm.
The Domestic Violence Legal Service provides free, confidential legal information, advice and referrals for women in NSW.
Legal Aid NSW
Call the Legal Aid NSW Domestic Violence Unit on 1800 979 529.
Legal Aid NSW Domestic Violence Unit can:
- help victim-survivors of domestic violence with legal and social needs
- help clients better understand their legal problems and provide free legal advice
- provide assistance in a range of legal matters including apprehended domestic violence orders, family law and care and protection matters.