Information about Family and Domestic Violence (FDV)
How to recognise family and domestic violence (NSW Communities and Justice)
What do we know about FDV in Australia? (Australian Institute of Health & Welfare)
FDV from a law enforcement perspective (NSW Police)
FDV related court proceedings (NSW Police)
Children and FDV (NSW Police)
FDV and apprehended domestic violence orders (NSW Police)
1800 RESPECT
Peninsula Lighthouse receives referrals from 1800 RESPECT, which is a free service available 24 hours a day ,7 days a week to support all Australians who are directly or indirectly experiencing, at risk of experiencing, witnessing or suspecting sexual assault, domestic or family abuse.
Call 1800 737 732 (24×7 Support)
Text 0458 737 732
Visit https://1800respect.org.au/
Free call from payphones, Optus and Telstra landlines and most mobile networks. SMS and video call is also available. Mobile or SMS numbers may appear on your itemised phone bill unless your network provider can exclude it. Text messages and screenshots may be backed up on the cloud or other devices after your conversation ends, and accessible on other devices. Browser history will show the 1800 RESPECT website, unless visiting incognito, or deleted.
Current July 2025
NSW Police
Emergency 000
Non-emergency 131 444, the operator will assist with your closest police station
Ask Izzy
Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need find housing, a meal, money help, domestic and family violence support, legal help, counselling and advice.
Visit: https://askizzy.org.au/
It is free and anonymous, with thousands of services listed across Australia. Free access on Telstra and Vodafone mobile networks, even if you don’t have credit or access to wi-fi.
13YARN
13YARN is a national crisis support line, delivered by Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mob who are feeling worried, no good, or having difficulty coping. The service offers a confidential, anonymous one-to-one yarn with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. No shame. No judgement.
Call 139276 Visit: https://www.13yarn.org.au/
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline is a free service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support young people aged 5 to 25 with phone support and online counselling.
Call 1800 551 800 (24×7 Support)
Visit https://kidshelpline.com.au
Free call from payphones, Optus and Telstra landlines and mobile services. Other providers may charge for 1800 calls.Current July 2025
Is what I am experiencing Domestic Violence?
‘Domestic and family violence’ is the label used to describe coercive, controlling, threatening and violent behaviours that occur within a family unit, or between individuals who have (or have had) intimate relations including caregivers. This includes:
- Intimate partner abuse (i.e., marriages, de facto couples, LGBTI couples, boyfriends and girlfriends, casual intimate relationships, carers)
- Violence towards elders or children
- Exposure to violence in a home or domestic environment (e.g., long term residents in a residential facility, between relatives or extended family/kin)
Domestic and family violence is harmful and traumatic. Once is enough.
The Australian Federal Family Law Act 1975, Section 4AB, defines family violence as “violent, threatening or other behaviour by a person that coerces or controls a member of the person’s family (the family member), or causes the family member to be fearful.”
The NSW Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007, Section 6A, defines domestic abuse as “violent or threatening behaviour” that “coerces or controls” [a second person] causing them “to fear for the person’s safety or wellbeing or the safety and wellbeing of others” as a single act or combination of acts over time. The legislation specifies damaging behaviours that constitute domestic abuse. Forms of abuse and violence listed in the NSW Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007, Section 6A, may be single or multiple acts, omissions or circumstances over time including:
- Physical abuse
- Physically abusive or violent
- Sexually abusive, coersive or violent
- Threats and harm to pets and animals, including injury or death
- Harassment and stalking
- Behaviour that damages or destroys property
- Deprivation and restriction of liberty
- Unreasonable control and regulation of day-to-day activities
- Non-physical abuse
- Exposing a child to hear, witness or experience the effects of domestic abuse
- Economic or financial abuse (misusing finances and economic resources to monitor, restrict, or harm. This includes accruing debt, withholding or depriving financial resources or entitlements or employment)
- Verbal abuse
- Emotional abuse (behaviour that shames, degrades or humiliates)
- Psychological abuse (behaviour that is intimidating)
- Social abuse (behaviour that isolates a person from family, friends and culture, including cultural or religious practice or identity)
- Technology-facilitated abuse (misusing technology to stalk, harass, monitor and track movements or communication, control, threaten or harm)
Current July 2025
What is technology-facilitated abuse?
Technology-facilitated abuse misuses technology to stalk, harass, monitor, track, control, threaten or harm you. This may involve devices (i.e., phones, computers, handheld devices), email accounts, and software (i.e., social media, online gaming and online apps).
Three ways to reduce technology-facilitated abuse and improve your safety when seeking information and help online:
1. Lock-down your personal details, essential services and privacy measures
Email, Phone and Postal mail
Lock-down your email account/s and phone service.
Register for family and domestic violence assistance.
Lock-down access to your data in the cloud or via remote services.
Change passwords or get new accounts, if necessary, as these are vital for other services.
Open a PO Box (12-months) in a secure location.
Banking
Physically attend your bank with ID and necessary documentation. You may require an appointment.
Register for family and domestic violence assistance and ask what services are available.
Secure your personal accounts and change passwords. (Close vulnerable accounts, suspend online banking for the short-term, and open a new account – possibly an extra account at another bank, if necessary.)
Update your contact details and specify mail to your secure email and/or PO Box.
Request extra security and alerts against your customer profile.
Request restrictions on shared accounts, lines of credit and loans, where possible. (Put this in writing, being clear about the risk of financial and economic abuse, and list all accounts you know about. Produce two copies of this document, request the bank sign and date both copies to acknowledge receipt, instruct them to file a copy against your customer profile, and take one copy for your own records.)
Be aware that shared banking details may automatically disclose contact details to other authorised account holders.
Seek legal advice, as necessary.
Contact Centrelink and all your linked government services (including online services).
Update your contact details.
Change bank account details if you suspect that any account receiving entitlements is compromised.
Update relationship and living status, and income estimates as relevant.
Apply for eligible services.
Be aware that Medicare details, and shared account information, may automatically disclose contact details to other authorised account holders.
Social media, online apps and other services
Change passwords and activate privacy settings on social media.
Close and delete unnecessary online apps, and change passwords.
Identify other services that may be access online (such as your health fund, utility provider, real estate) and ask what help is available (i.e., in the case of financial hardship, broken leases, unauthorised activity, etc.)
2. Safeguard your internet use by using incognito/private browsing
When you use the internet, your device automatically records your browsing history and captures cookies so that it’s easier to view those websites again. To reduce opportunities for technology-facilitated abuse, wait until you can use a device that is unlikely to be monitored (e.g., at a public library or a trust person) because someone else can also view your browsing history unless you delete it manually or you use incognito/private windows. Incognito windows do not record your browsing history or keep a record of the pages. At the end of your session, exit the web page/s and close the incognito browser, which also deletes the cookies.
Learn how to delete your browsing history on:
Google Chrome on Computers, Android devices, iPhone and iPad devices
Safari and Mac devices (i.e., Macbook)
Safari and Apple devices (i.e., iPhone, iPad)
Learn how to use incognito windows on:
Google Chrome on Computers, Android devices, iPhone and iPad devices
Safari and Apple devices (i.e., iPhone, iPad)
Safari and Mac devices (i.e., Macbook)
If in doubt, use a public payphone to free call 1800 RESPECT, and use a public computer (i.e., in a library) to access information or seek help online.
3. Screen and block unwanted contact (e.g., via your phone or online gaming) and keep records.
Suspend activity and shut comments if there is a risk of escalation.
Do not delete material. Capture online content to substantiate a risk of harm.
Recording without consent may be permissible in Family, Civil and Criminal Court cases to demonstrate a genuine threat of personal safety or property damage (i.e., stalking, intimidation, forced entry, child protection), as long as you are a primary participant in the conversation, and/or if the recording is important evidence (The Australian Federal Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), Section 138)
Report harmful or inappropriate online content, bullying or abuse to the eSafety Commissioner.
Request a malicious call trace (MCT) from your telecommunication provider and report it to the NSW Police.
Report unsafe or threatening conduct and content, whether in person or online, to the NSW Police.
To exit any webpage suddenly, the QUICK EXIT menu button opens the ABC news website. If you are in immediate danger, ring 000.