If you are experiencing family or domestic violence, help is available

Everyone deserves to be safe and be respected. Yet in Australia, 1 in 4 women have experienced gender-based violence. 

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence is a global campaign that calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and children. 

The campaign runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). 

This year’s campaign highlights one of the fastest growing forms of abuse: digital violence against women and girls. 

But as UN Women Australia is highlighting locally, acts of abuse don’t just happen online. Online harassment, stalking, image-based abuse, and threats often spill over into the real world, leading to coercion, control, and physical harm. 

Girls and women should be safe everywhere, and always. 

Support is available. If you are experiencing family, domestic or sexual violence, help is here, including counselling, short-term accommodation, financial assistance, and other support services. 

For more information and links to support, visit dva.gov.au 

Other ways you can get help 

  •  In case of an emergency call 000. 

  • 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732. 

  • MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime. Call 1800 78 99 78. 

  • Open Arms - Veterans and Families Counselling provides free, military-aware mental health and wellbeing support to anyone who has served one day in the ADF and their families. Call 1800 011 046 at any time, every day of the year. 

  • Kids Help Line is a phone counselling service. Call 1800 551 800.