Family Violence (1800 Respect, No To Violence)

This is one in a series of blog posts describing some of the support services available in Australia.

If you are in a crisis situation, or life is at risk, please call 000 immediately.

You can read our other blog posts on Homelessness services, Drug and Alcohol support services, Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention Services and Gambling support services.

1800 Respect

Who is this service aimed towards?

1800 Respect is a national sexual assault and domestic family violence consulting service. It operates 24/7 in order to assist and encourage people suffering from domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, or any kind of abuse taking place at home, someone else’s home, or public places.

You may contact 1800 Respect in the following cases:

• You’re a child seeking help to deal with abusive or negligent parents.
• You’re a child, man, or woman of any age who has been sexually abused.
• You’re a wife or husband suffering domestic violence from your partner, whether that’s physical, verbal, or psychological.
• You’re a friend of the family, or someone who’s worried that someone else you know is currently suffering with domestic violence or sexual abuse.

How to get in touch?

You can directly contact this service by calling 1800737732, or by chatting live with one of their knowledgeable and trained counsellors via online chat. Both telephone and online counselling are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

All Australians, including the hearing impaired, vision impaired, speech impaired, and non-English speakers may get in touch with 1800 Respect anytime. More information is available on their Accessibility page.

This service is free to contact, but keep in mind that the call will appear on your phone bill. All contact is confidential, unless there is your permission to keep your information, or in case you or someone else needs immediate help.

IF YOU’RE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 000.

What kind of support services do they offer?

When contacting 1800 Respect, you’ll be able to browse through the following services in your area:

• Domestic/Family violence support services.
• Sexual assault and violence support services.
• Money, housing, and finance support services.
• Support services providing advocacy for old people and people with disability.
• Support services aimed at particular groups (refugees, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTI community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples).

For additional information about domestic violence and sexual abuse, visit https://www.1800respect.org.au/.

No To Violence (NTV)

Who is this service aimed towards?

No To Violence (NTV) supports men who use or have used family violence, and wish to change their aggressive behavior for good. It also assists family members who need advice on what to do about the abusive man in their homes.

This service is available 24/7 via phone or live chat.

NTV operates the Men’s Referral Service, whose help you might want to reach in the following cases:

• You’re worried about your aggressive and abusive behavior towards your children or partner, whether that behavior is verbal or physical.
• You’ve been told you are abusive by one or more family members.
• You’ve scared your children or spouse due to your violent behavior.
• You’ve forced a spouse to partake in sexual activity.
• You’ve hit your partner or your children, and are scared you may do it again.
• You’re a family member or family friend who’s worried about the way someone treats their spouse and/or children.
• You’re the spouse or child of an abusive man, and don’t know what to do about their behavior.

How to get in touch?

To immediately talk to a counsellor, reach the Men’s Referral Service at 1300 766 491, or start an instant live chat at https://ntv.org.au/, at the bottom-right corner of the page. An experienced counsellor should be readily available to chat with you.

If English isn’t your first language and you still need assistance, don’t worry–the Australian Government Translating Service will have a translator ready to help you.

When calling, you don’t need to provide your personal information, not even your first name. A lot of callers feel better when remaining anonymous.

IF YOU’RE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 000.

What kind of support services do they offer?

When contacting NTV, depending on your specific case, counsellors may link you up to the following services:

• The BETTER MAN website, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne (for men who seek professional help in an early stage).
• The Men’s Behavioral Change Program (for men who wish to cultivate healthy relationships and end abusive behavior).
• Voluntary services for women and children (including individual and group counselling, safety planning, and specialist referrals for further assistance)

If you need more information about family violence, visit https://ntv.org.au/.

Remember, if you are in a crisis situation, or need immediate support, please call 000.

We also offer counselling and coaching support. For a free, confiedntial discussion about how me can help you, click here to make a time for us to chat, or call us directly on 0493 063 530.