Staying safe

Apprehended violence orders (AVO)

An AVO is a court order that protects a person from another person who causes them to fear for their safety.

An AVO can protect a person from:

• violence, or threats of violence
• stalking
• intimidation
• harassment
• property damage or threatened property damage
• harm to their animals.

There are two types of AVOs:

• Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) - that protect a person from violence committed by someone that they are, or were, in a domestic relationship with, such as a spouse, parenting, child, or extended family member
• Apprehended Personal Violence​ Orders (APVOs) - that protect a person from violence committed by someone who they are not, and have not been, in a domestic relationship with, such as a neighbour or colleague.

If you are unsafe or are experiencing any kind of domestic violence, you should call the police. If the police have fears for your safety, they can apply for an AVO to protect you. If the police won’t apply for an AVO, you may be able to make a private application.

For more information, see Apprehended Violence Orders.

Online safety

If you are the victim of a crime, it is important that you stay safe online even if you aren’t the victim of haven’t experienced any cybercrime. Online safety will allow you to stay in touch with family, friends, and support network. It will also help protect you from becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Cyber threats and scams

Cyber threats and scams are an increasing problem online. It is important that you are aware of the different types of threats and scams that exist to avoid to falling victim to them.

For more information, see Cyber threats and scams.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology to harass, threaten or bully a child. It can include:

• repeated insults or derogatory comments
• threats to harm you or people you know
• comments that make you feel hurt, scared, or intimidated.

For information about how to protect yourself, see Cyberbullying on the eSafety Commissioner website.

Adult cyber abuse

Adult cyber abuse is when someone sends, posts, or shares harmful content with you on an app, online service, or platform. It can include:

• realistic threats, such as threats to expose you, or threats of violence to you
• content that exposes you to physical danger, or is excessively hurtful
• someone repeatedly targeting you.

For information about how to protect yourself, see Adult cyber abuse on the eSafety Commissioner website.

Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking is when someone uses digital technology to constantly track and harass you online. It can be a type of domestic violence. It is often accompanied by physical stalking and can escalate into physical violence.

For information about how to protect yourself, see Cyberstalking on the eSafety Commissioner website.

Image-based abuse

Image-based abuse is when a person shares, or threatens to share, an intimate image without the permission of the person in that image. It is also called known as revenge-porn.

For information about how to protect yourself, see Image-based abuse on the eSafety Commissioner website.

Child sexual abuse

Online child sexual abuse is the use of technology to sexually abuse a child. It covers many different types of actions, including:

• online grooming
• live online child sexual abuse
• producing and sharing child abuse material
• coercing and blackmailing children for sexual purposes.

For information about how to protect your child, see Child sexual abuse online on the eSafety Commissioner website.

Doxing

Doxing is when someone intentionally exposes your identity, private information or personal details online without your consent. Doxing doesn’t just breach your privacy, it can lead to other problems, including:

• public embarrassment, humiliation, or shaming
• cyberstalking
• identity theft
• financial fraud
• anxiety, loss of confidence and self-esteem.

For information about how to protect yourself, see Doxing on the eSafety Commissioner website.

Illegal and restricted online content

Illegal and restricted content includes material that shows or encourages child sexual abuse, terrorism, or other extreme violence. If someone has shared, or tried to share, illegal and restricted content with you, you can get help and make an anonymous report.

For information about how to protect yourself, see Illegal and restricted online content on the eSafety Commissioner website.

Personal information and identity

If your personal information or accounts has been hacked, it is important that you act quickly to protect yourself and prevent any further harm.

If your identity has been stolen, there are steps you can take to minimise any damage. This includes getting a Victims’ Certificate to help you:

• get new identification documents
• remove fraudulent transactions from your records
• fix any problems caused by having your identity stolen.

For more information, see Victims of cybercrime.

Bank accounts and online payment accounts

Bank accounts and online payment accounts are often targeted by cybercriminals looking to steal money. There are steps you can take to protect your bank accounts from cyber criminals. If you have found unauthorised activity in your bank account, you need to take steps to secure your accounts and report the unauthorised activity.

For more information, see Mistaken and unauthorised payments.

Non-legal support services

Domestic and family violence support services

There are many domestic and family violence support services for victims, including specialist services for:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children
• LGBTQ+ people
• older persons
• people with disability.

For more information, see Domestic violence support services.

Sexual assault support services

Last updated: June 2026