Family violence is the most significant policing challenge in Victoria and one of the most underreported. In 2024-25, Victoria Police recorded 106,430 family violence incidents statewide, a record high and an 8% increase on the prior year. For every incident recorded, many more go unreported. If you are in Melbourne and experiencing family violence, or supporting someone who is, this guide covers where to go, what to call, what financial support exists, how to get legal help, and what happens after the immediate crisis is over.
If You Are in Crisis Right Now
If you or someone with you is in immediate danger, call 000. Tell the operator it is a family violence emergency. Police are legally required to respond.
For crisis support that is not an immediate physical emergency, call Safe Steps on 1800 015 188. Safe Steps is Victoria’s statewide family violence response centre, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is free and confidential. A crisis worker can help you assess your safety, arrange emergency accommodation, connect you with local services, and support you to make an immediate safety plan. Safe Steps also offers a web chat service if calling is not safe.
For national support at any hour, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. You can also text 0458 737 732 or use the online chat at 1800respect.org.au. This service provides confidential counselling, information, and referrals to anyone affected by sexual assault, domestic, or family violence anywhere in Australia.
How Common Is Family Violence in Victoria?
Victoria has one of the most comprehensive family violence data systems in Australia, which means the scale of the problem is measured more accurately here than in many other states. The Crime Statistics Agency released the 2024-25 Victorian Family Violence Database in December 2025. Key findings include:
- 106,430 family violence incidents were recorded by police in 2024-25, a new record high
- This was an 8% increase on the 98,816 incidents recorded in 2023-24
- 21,239 incidents (20%) involved perpetrators not previously recorded for family violence
- 47% of youth perpetrators aged 17 and under had previously been victims of family violence themselves
- Child protection investigations increased by 15% to 47,183 in 2024-25
- For intimate partner violence, female affected family members outnumber male by 4 to 1
- 24% of family violence intervention orders issued in response to incidents were subsequently breached
Police data substantially underestimates actual prevalence. Research has shown that only 18% of women subjected to violence by a current partner have ever contacted police about it (ABS Personal Safety Statistics). The true number of Victorians affected by family violence in any given year is far higher than incident records reflect.
The Orange Door: Melbourne’s Walk-In Family Violence Service
The Orange Door is a free Victorian Government service that provides a single point of access to family violence and family services support. You do not need a referral, an appointment, or a Medicare card to use it. It is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
At The Orange Door, specialist family violence practitioners can help you assess your immediate safety, develop a safety plan, arrange referrals to crisis accommodation and specialist services, connect children and young people with appropriate support, and link you with legal services, housing, financial assistance, and counselling.
Melbourne area Orange Door locations include:
- Bayside Melbourne: Covering inner and inner-south Melbourne suburbs
- Frankston: Covering Frankston and surrounding south-east suburbs
- Dandenong: Covering the Greater Dandenong area and south-east suburbs
- Heidelberg: Covering north-east Melbourne suburbs
Find your nearest Orange Door location and contact details at orangedoor.vic.gov.au. If you are unsure which location covers your area, Safe Steps (1800 015 188) can connect you to the right service.
The Leaving Violence Program: Financial Support to Help You Leave
One of the most significant barriers to leaving a violent relationship is financial dependence. The Leaving Violence Program, which began on 1 July 2025, directly addresses this barrier. It is a national Australian Government program providing eligible victim-survivors with financial support and practical assistance.
What the Leaving Violence Program Provides
Eligible victim-survivors can receive up to $5,000 in financial support, structured as:
- Up to $1,500 as a cash payment (via bank transfer or pre-paid card)
- Up to $3,500 in goods and services, which can include bond and rent, moving costs, short-term accommodation, furniture and household basics, car repairs, clothing, or medical needs
- Safety planning, risk assessment, and referrals to housing, legal, mental health, and financial counselling services for up to 12 weeks
The program is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 000 or Safe Steps first.
Who Is Eligible for the Leaving Violence Program?
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a victim-survivor of intimate partner violence (current or former partner, same-sex relationships included)
- Have left, or have a plan to leave, the violent relationship
- Have changed or be planning to change your living arrangements in the past 12 weeks due to the violence
- Be 18 years or older
- Be residing in Australia (Australian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary visa holders are all eligible)
- Be experiencing financial stress
- Not have received the payment in the past 12 months through the Leaving Violence Program or earlier trial programs
The program is available to people of any gender or sexuality. To apply or find out more, visit leavingviolenceprogram.org.au or call 1800 253 283.
Victorian Crisis and Safety Services in Melbourne
Safe Steps (1800 015 188)
Safe Steps is Victoria’s 24/7 family violence response centre. It provides crisis counselling, safety planning, and emergency referrals including to crisis accommodation. Safe Steps is the primary entry point to the family violence service system in Victoria after calling 000. The web chat is available for people who cannot safely make a phone call.
Sexual Assault Crisis Line (1800 806 292)
The Sexual Assault Crisis Line is a statewide, confidential telephone crisis counselling service for people in Victoria who have experienced sexual assault. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During business hours, calls are connected to local specialist sexual assault services.
Victims of Crime Helpline (1800 819 817)
Available 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 5pm on weekends and public holidays. This service provides advice and referrals to anyone experiencing violence or abuse, including adult male victims of family violence and victims of violent crime.
Rainbow Door (1800 729 367)
A free specialist helpline providing information, support, and referral to LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and families. Available 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week. Also offers a text service on 0480 017 246.
Djirra (Aboriginal Women) (1800 105 303)
Djirra is a specialist Aboriginal community-controlled organisation supporting Aboriginal women who have experienced family violence. Available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. For after-hours crisis, Aboriginal callers can also use the 24/7 crisis line on 1800 959 563.
Multicultural Support (1800 755 988)
Specialist family violence support services are available for multicultural women and their families and communities, with multilingual services and cultural understanding at the centre of their approach.
Legal Help for Family Violence in Melbourne
Getting legal advice early can make a significant difference to your safety and your options. These services are free or low cost.
Family Violence Intervention Orders
A Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) is a legal order from a Victorian Magistrates Court that restricts what a perpetrator can do, including who they can contact, where they can go, and whether they can remain in the family home. You can apply for an FVIO yourself at any Victorian Magistrates Court. The police can also apply on your behalf. You do not need a lawyer to apply, though legal assistance makes the process easier.
Women’s Legal Service Victoria (1800 133 302)
Women’s Legal Service Victoria provides free legal advice and assistance to women experiencing family violence. Call Monday to Friday during business hours. This service covers intervention orders, family law matters, property, and safety planning from a legal perspective.
Victoria Legal Aid (1300 792 387)
Victoria Legal Aid provides assistance for people with legal problems in family law and criminal law, including family violence matters. They offer an interpreter service in 14 languages. Eligibility criteria apply for ongoing legal representation.
Specialist Services for Specific Groups in Melbourne
Children and Young People
Children who live with family violence experience its impact even when they are not directly targeted. They can develop anxiety, depression, attachment difficulties, and behaviour concerns as responses to what they have witnessed or experienced. Kids Helpline (1800 551 800) provides 24/7 free counselling for people aged 5 to 25. The Orange Door specifically works with children affected by family violence. Child protection can be contacted on 13 12 78 after hours when a child’s immediate safety is at risk.
People with Disability
People with disability face significantly elevated risk of family violence, and their pathways to safety can be more complex. A perpetrator may be both an intimate partner and a primary carer, creating dangerous dependence. Safe Steps and 1800RESPECT can provide advice regardless of disability status. The National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline (1800 880 052) handles reports of abuse of people with disability. NDIS participants may be able to access support through their plan, including therapy to process trauma, advocacy to navigate the system, accommodation support, and support coordination to rebuild a stable life after leaving.
Older Women
Elder abuse affects older Victorians across intimate partner relationships, family relationships, and care arrangements. Seniors Rights Victoria provides confidential information and advice. Call their helpline on 1300 368 821, available 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Men Experiencing Family Violence
Men can also be victim-survivors of family violence, in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships. The Victims of Crime Helpline (1800 819 817) provides advice for male victims. MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78) offers 24/7 phone and online counselling for men experiencing family violence and relationship concerns.
What Happens After the Immediate Crisis
Leaving family violence is not a single event. It is a process that unfolds over months or years, and the practical, emotional, and financial challenges often intensify in the weeks after leaving. These are the areas most commonly underestimated by people in the process of leaving.
Housing After Family Violence
Crisis accommodation through Safe Steps is available for immediate nights, but long-term safe housing is much harder to arrange. Women leaving family violence are among the highest-priority groups for social housing in Victoria, but wait times remain significant. The Orange Door can connect you with specialist housing workers who understand the family violence pathway.
The Leaving Violence Program can also be used to cover bond and rent costs as part of the goods and services component of the payment. For NDIS participants, accommodation support may be fundable through their plan. See our guide to emergency housing in Australia and social housing options for a full breakdown.
Mental Health After Family Violence
Trauma from family violence affects mental health in lasting ways. Post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and complex trauma are common responses. They are not signs of weakness. They are normal responses to sustained harm. Access to trauma-informed psychology, counselling, and peer support makes a significant difference to recovery. A GP can provide a Mental Health Treatment Plan for Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions.
Rebuilding Financial Independence
Financial abuse is one of the most common forms of family violence, and it often continues after leaving through debt, poor credit, and employment gaps. The National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) provides free financial counselling Monday to Friday. The Leaving Violence Program can help cover immediate financial costs. Services Australia can also help you access Centrelink entitlements if you are separating from a partner.
How Nhanya Foundation Supports Women and Young People Leaving Family Violence in Melbourne
Nhanya means persistence. That is the quality we bring to working with people who are leaving, or have left, family violence. Recovery is not linear, and it does not end when a woman leaves the relationship. We stay present through the complexity, through setbacks, and through the long process of rebuilding a safer life.
Nhanya Foundation is a Melbourne-based not-for-profit organisation and registered charity. Our core focus is women, children, and young people experiencing vulnerability, including those affected by family violence, housing instability, and complex mental health needs. Every service we provide is trauma-informed from the first contact.
Our services most relevant to people leaving family violence include:
- Advocacy and Service Navigation: Practical casework support to help you navigate systems, understand your options, follow through on referrals, and feel supported during appointments and difficult conversations. This includes assistance with forms, communications, and representing your interests with service providers.
- Allied Health Therapy: Occupational therapy, psychology, speech pathology, and behaviour support for women and children processing the effects of family violence. We approach every therapeutic relationship with patience, care, and an understanding that trauma affects how people engage with support.
- Accommodation Support: Help navigating housing pathways, including crisis accommodation, transitional housing, and longer-term stability. Housing instability and family violence are deeply connected, and Nhanya has experience working across both.
- Employment, Skills and Community Inclusion: Support to rebuild work readiness, develop practical life skills, and reconnect with community when you are ready. Family violence often disrupts employment and community ties; our program works at a pace that suits each person.
- Youth Strength and Recovery Workshops: Group-based programs for young people aged 12 to 25 who have been affected by family violence, building emotional regulation, confidence, and community connection.
- Assertive Outreach and Stabilisation: For young people aged 12 to 25 who have disengaged from services or who face safety concerns, housing instability, or emotional wellbeing challenges in the aftermath of family violence.
- NDIS Support Coordination: For NDIS participants, help understanding your plan and connecting with the therapy, accommodation, and community supports that can assist recovery after family violence.
Nhanya Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity. Our services are guided by community benefit, not private profit. Any proceeds are reinvested into charitable activities supporting people experiencing hardship and disadvantage.
For current information on Nhanya’s NDIS registration and the services for which registration applies, search the NDIS Commission Provider Register at ndiscommission.gov.au.
Contact Nhanya Foundation at nhanya.org.au/contact or call 03 8595 9012. Referrals can be submitted at nhanya.org.au/referral.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Violence Support in Melbourne
What number do I call for family violence help in Melbourne?
In an immediate emergency, call 000. For 24/7 family violence crisis support in Victoria, call Safe Steps on 1800 015 188. For national support, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. The Orange Door provides free walk-in support Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm at Melbourne locations including Frankston, Dandenong, Bayside Melbourne, and Heidelberg. No referral or appointment is needed.
What is The Orange Door in Melbourne?
The Orange Door is a free Victorian Government service providing a single point of access to family violence and family services support. It operates Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm with no referral or appointment needed. Melbourne locations include Frankston, Dandenong, Bayside Melbourne, and Heidelberg. Workers can arrange crisis support, safety planning, specialist referrals, and support for children and young people.
What is the Leaving Violence Program and how much does it pay?
The Leaving Violence Program began 1 July 2025. Eligible victim-survivors of intimate partner violence can receive up to $5,000: up to $1,500 in cash and up to $3,500 in goods and services such as bond, rent, moving costs, or furniture. The program also includes safety planning and referrals for up to 12 weeks. It is open to any gender or visa status. Apply at leavingviolenceprogram.org.au or call 1800 253 283.
How common is family violence in Victoria?
Victoria Police recorded 106,430 family violence incidents in 2024-25, a record high and an 8% increase on the prior year (Crime Statistics Agency). For intimate partner violence, female affected family members outnumber male by 4 to 1. Police data substantially underestimates actual prevalence, as research shows only 18% of women subjected to partner violence have ever contacted police about it.
Can I get legal help if I am experiencing family violence in Melbourne?
Yes. Women’s Legal Service Victoria provides free legal advice on 1800 133 302. Victoria Legal Aid (1300 792 387) assists with family law and intervention orders. You can apply for a Family Violence Intervention Order yourself at any Victorian Magistrates Court. Safe Steps and The Orange Door can also connect you with legal support.
What support is available for children experiencing family violence in Melbourne?
Kids Helpline (1800 551 800) provides 24/7 free counselling for people aged 5 to 25. The Orange Door works specifically with children affected by family violence. Child protection can be contacted on 13 12 78 after hours when a child’s safety is at risk. Allied health therapy including psychology can also help children process trauma.
What if I have a disability and am experiencing family violence?
Safe Steps (1800 015 188) and 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) both support people with disability. The National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline (1800 880 052) handles reports of abuse of people with disability. NDIS participants may be able to access therapy, advocacy, accommodation support, and support coordination through their plan to assist recovery after leaving a violent relationship.
