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Thanks for your patience over the next few weeks while we clean up fallen trees after the recent storms. Find out more about free storm related waste drop offs at the Knox Transfer Station and extra bin collections.

Family violence support

Information on support services to help if you or your family experience family violence.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

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About family violence

Family violence takes many forms and it occurs across all social groups in the community.

While physical violence may be the most visible, there are other forms of family violence. These include:

  • physical assault (such as pushing, slapping, punching, choking)
  • verbal abuse (such as put-downs, threats and intimidation)
  • sexual assault (such as manipulating or forcing you to do sexual things, even if you are married)
  • emotional abuse (such as weakening your self-esteem)
  • controlling behaviours (such as deciding who you can see or what you do)
  • stalking (such as monitoring your online activity, following you)
  • financial abuse (such as controlling access to money)
  • pet abuse (such as threatening or harming an animal)
  • travel visa abuse (such as controlling access to visa documentation or threatening to impact your visa status)
  • social abuse (such as isolating you from family and friends)
  • spiritual abuse (such as preventing you from practising your spiritual beliefs)
  • threats or actually self-harming and saying you are responsible
  • spousal homicide.

If someone is violent, abusing and hurting you or your children, it is not your fault.

Support services

There are services that you can reach out to for advice or help.

Local support services in Knox

The Orange Door in Outer Eastern Melbourne

Information and services for people experiencing family violence, including:
 

  • women, children and young people
  • families
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • men.

1800 271 150
Mon to Fri, 9 am to 5 pm
(except public holidays)

4-16 Devon Street, Croydon 3136

orangedoor.vic.gov.au

oema@orangedoor.vic.gov.au

Free From Family Violence (FVREE)

Specialist service for women, their children and pets living in the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne who are currently experiencing family violence.

9259 4200 
Mon to Fri, 9 am to 5 pm

fvree.org.au

Eastern Access Community Health (EACH)

Counselling for anyone experiencing family violence and would like to seek support through counselling.

1300 003 224

Mon to Fri, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

each.com.au

Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (ECASA)

Support service for men, women, youth and children.

9870 7330 (office hours)

easternhealth.org.au/services/item/174-eastern-centre-against-sexual-assault-ecasa

Men's Behaviour Change Programs
Relationships Australia Victoria, Boronia
Men's Behaviour Change and Case Management programs for men who use, or have used, family violence

9725 9964
boronia@rav.org.au https://www.relationshipsvictoria.org.au/men-using-family-violence/

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support services

Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency (VACCA)

Cultural or violence support for men, women and children

9287 8000

vacca.org
 

Boorndawan William Aboriginal Healing Service

For Indigenous men, women, children and extended families

9212 0200

bwahs.com.au

Dijirra

Aboriginal family violence response and support service
 

1800 105 303 (free call)

Mon-Fri 9am-9pm

djirra.org.au

Dardi Munwurro

Specialist family violence support service for Aboriginal men and youth

Brother to brother, 24-hour crisis line

1800 435 799

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

dardimunwurro.com.au

LGBTIQ+ support services

With Respect

Support and referral service for LGBTIQ+ people of all ages and their families experiencing difficulties in relationships, including family violence 

1800 542 847

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

withrespect.org.au

Elder abuse support services

Eastern Community Legal Centre
Elder Abuse Response Services

ROSE (Rights of Seniors in the East) and ELSA (Engaging and Living Safely and Autonomously) are programs for people living in Melbourne’s East, aged 65 years and over or 50 years if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

email ROSE@eclc.org.au

email: ELSA@eclc.org.au
phone ELSA:
0429 697 960

Seniors Rights Victoria
Information and support service for seniors experiencing elder abuse
phone: 1300 368 821

 

Other family violence support services

Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre

A state-wide crisis response service for people who experience family violence, including accommodation and information

1800 015 188

24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

Email safesteps@safesteps.org.au if you cannot safely call the phone line

safesteps.org.au

Sexual Assault Crisis Line

Crisis response for people who have experienced sexual assault or violence

1800 806 292 (after hours)

sacl.com.au

1800 RESPECT

National family violence and sexual assault helpline offering confidential counselling and support services 

1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT)

24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

1800respect.org.au

Child Protection East Division

If you have concerns that a child is at risk of significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect

1300 360 391 (business hours)

131 278 (after hours)

services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/child-protection-contacts

inTouch

Provides services, programs and responses to family violence in migrant and refugee communities

1800 755 988 (free call)

Mon–Fri 9 am to 5 pm

intouch.org.au

Men’s Helpline

A free telephone and online counselling service for men

1300 789 978 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

mensline.org.au

Kid's Helpline

A free telephone and online counselling service for people aged 5 to 25

1800 55 1800

24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

kidshelpline.com.au

Men’s Referral Service

Support for men who use violence against family members to change their behaviours 

1300 766 491

ntv.org.au

Download our family violence safety card for easy reference to support services.

View family violence safety card

Knox Council Short Term Support Service

Translations

If you would like the information translated, call:

Help for those who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have speech impairment:

Family violence in Knox

Incidence of family violence in Knox continues to be above the eastern metropolitan average.

  • 56% of all assaults on people in Knox in 2021/22 were family violence related.

Family violence is a major health and welfare issue that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Men, women and children can be victims of family violence and the latest data for the year to September 2022, shows that 72% of recorded victims are female (Source: Victorian Family Violence Data Portal, Crime Statistics Agency, 2023). This is consistent with data over the last decade indicating that on average, women make up around three quarters of victims.

Family violence and homelessness

The ties between family violence and homelessness are clear. In fact, family violence is the single biggest cause of homelessness in this state.

There is help available if you are at risk of homelessness or need housing support.

If someone else is experiencing family violence

Safe steps provide information on how you can help and support them.

How we work against family violence

Council supports preventing family violence by delivering a range of activities to keep our community safe. This includes:

  • collaborating with key organisations that provide crisis intervention
  • funding projects with a family violence prevention focus
  • training our Maternal and Child Health workers, Youth Services and Aged Care workers to provide assessment, support and referral.

Council's commitment to the prevention of family violence

Knox City Council commits to working toward a community free from violence.

We recognise that family violence is a major health and welfare issue. It affects people of all ages and all backgrounds.

We also recognise the wide-ranging and damaging impact family violence has on the lives of those affected and on the community as a whole.

We commit to preventing and responding to family violence through Council’s services, programs and advocacy. Please view our Family Violence Statement of Commitment for more details.

Need help?

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Contact us and we will get back to you.

Or call our Customer Service team on 9298 8000.

Our services

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