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Domestic violence support services

Information about the support available for victims of domestic and family violence.

NSW Domestic Violence Line

The NSW Domestic Violence Line is a state-wide 24-hour service providing:

  • counselling and family support services
  • help with hospital care
  • help finding emergency accommodation for you and your children
  • help with transport for you and your children
  • information about Apprehended Violence Orders
  • help to develop a safety plan
  • referrals.

The staff on the NSW Domestic Violence Line can provide referrals to legal services. They cannot provide legal advice.

If you call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 you don't have to give your name or other personal details. You can remain anonymous.

For more information, see NSW Domestic Violence Line on the Department of Communities and Justice website.

Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children

Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (FamAC)

The Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities provides advice, legal representation, advocacy, and referrals to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with family law, AVO and care and protection matters.

For more information, see Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities.

Wirrawee Gunya

Wirrawee Gunya provide domestic and family violence services for Aboriginal women and children, including:

  • crisis accommodation in Penrith and Dharruk
  • transitional housing and outreach support across Nepean, Blue Mountains and Blacktown regions
  • tailored support for children
  • in-house counselling
  • case management.

You can contact Wirrawee Gunya by:

  • calling 02 4732 231, or
  • emailing info@dvwest.org.au.

Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre 

Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre provides advice, legal representation, advocacy, and referrals to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in NSW who have, or are experiencing, domestic violence. Their staff regularly attend court as a support person in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Scheme (WDVCAS).

For more information, see the Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre website.

Support for LGBTQ+ people

Another Closet

The Another Closet website is for people in LGBTIQ relationships who are or may be experiencing domestic and family violence.

It contains information on what domestic violence is, what to do if you are experiencing abuse, tips for making a crisis plan and the details for some referral services in NSW.

It also has information for people supporting an LGBTIQ friend or family member who is experiencing abuse. 

For more information, see the Another Closet website. 

Safe Relationships Project

The Safe Relationships Project (SRP) provides support, advocacy, referrals and information to: 

  • men and women who are experiencing domestic violence in Same Sex relationships  
  • Transgender and Transsexual people
  • Intersex people.

The Safe Relationships Project assists their clients in accessing legal representation and applying for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVO) or Apprehended Personal Violence Orders (APVO) to help put an end to the violence they are experiencing.

For more information, see Safe Re​lationships Project on the Inner City Legal Centre website.  

Support for older persons

Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service

The Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service provides information, advocacy, legal representation and referrals to older persons who are experiencing, or are at risk of, elder abuse. The Service assists people aged 65 or over and Aboriginal people 50 or over who reside in the Central Coast or Lower Hunter region (including Newcastle). It helps with:

  • housing and granny flat matters
  • Centrelink debts
  • family breakdown
  • informal loans
  • Apprehended Violence Orders
  • guardianship and Powers of Attorney
  • physical and sexual abuse
  • financial abuse
  • psychological abuse (bullying, harassment, isolation and neglect).

For more information, see Elder Abuse Service.

Senior Rights Service

The Seniors Rights Service provides free and confidential advice, aged care advocacy and support, and legal advice to seniors across NSW. The Service is available to people aged 65 or over and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 or over in NSW. It helps people with:

  • consumer problems
  • human rights matters, including domestic violence,
  • alternative decision-making.

For more information, see the Seniors Rights Service website.

Support for people with disability

Intellectual Disability Rights Service

The Intellectual Disability Rights Service provides free legal advice, casework and professional consultation for people with disability involved in criminal and Apprehended Violence Order matters. 

For more information, see the Intellectual Disability Rights Service website.

People with Disability Australia

People with Disability Australia provides support to people with disability to be safe in all areas of their lives. There are a range of services available, including help to speak to the police. 

For more information, see the People with Disability Australia website.

Support for men

Family Advocacy and Support Service 

The Family Advocacy and Support Service provides legal advice, representation and referrals to men affected by family violence who have a family law matter. The service is made up of lawyers and support workers who help men who have experienced domestic violence or been accused of domestic violence. 

The service is also available to other family members, such as grandparents.

The service operates out of the following Family Law Courts:

  • Parramatta
  • Newcastle
  • Sydney
  • Wollongong.

For more information, see Family Advocacy and Support Service.

MensLine Australia 

MensLine Australia is a phone and online support service that assists men affected by domestic and family violence. The service also helps men to stop using violence and abuse against their family.

For more information, see the MensLine Australia website.

Men’s Referral Service

The Men’s Referral Service is a free phone counselling, information and referral service that helps men to stop using violence and abuse against their family.

For more information, see the No to Violence website.