Understanding Abuse in Relationships

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This fact sheet is for people with intersex variations/innate variations of sex characteristics and is not intended to give legal advice.

This resource discusses the nature and forms of abuse that can exist in interpersonal relationships. It is designed for people with an innate variation of sex characteristics (IVSC, intersex variation) and discusses particular ways in which having an intersex variation can impact our experiences around intimate partner and/or family violence.

This resource also contains links to local and national support services that provide support to those who have experienced abuse in their relationships.

You may wish to use this resource to better understand interpersonal abuse and the forms this can take in a relationship. This may be particularly useful if you are concerned about some behaviours or experiences you have noticed in your relationship or those of your loved ones.

What is Intimate Partner and Family Violence?

Intimate partner and/or family violence is a form of violence that is not always easy to recognise. It can take many forms, some of which we may be more familiar with than others. Some forms of abuse such as physical or sexual abuse may be easier to recognise or identify as they involve explicit violence. Intimate partner and/or family violence may however be harder to recognise when it involves cruelty, coercion or is not outwardly violent. Physical abuse, for example, is not just limited to acts of physical violence. It can also include acts of intimidation, threats of violence or damage to your property or belongings. This type of violence can often start with manipulative comments and escalate into more aggressive abuse over time.

It is important to know that if you have experienced any kind of abuse it is not your fault. No one ever deserves to be treated in these ways.
Another term that is often discussed alongside or as part of abuse is coercive control. This is a pattern of manipulative behaviour where a person gains control over another by disregarding their health, safety, wellbeing and agency. This is often done through various forms of abuse and may even involve another behaviour called gaslighting.

Gaslighting is a specific behaviour that undermines a person’s agency by intentionally manipulating or distorting a person’s sense of reality by challenging their cognition and memory. It is a repeated and intentional pattern of challenging a person’s perception, judgement and capacity in a way that promotes self doubt and second guessing. This allows the abuser to assert their perspective as the ‘truth’, often positioning themselves as providing help, allowing them to manipulate the person they are gaslighting.

How can having an intersex variation impact my risk or exposure to intimate partner or family violence?

Before looking into the specific types of abuse and how these may manifest, it is important to understand our individual risk of exposure to abuse. This will vary from person to person, however it may be more common in some populations than others. Abuse is predominantly about power and control, and can arise in any situation where one party has, or enforces more power and control over others. Therefore, marginalised, disenfranchised or minority populations are on average at a greater risk of exposure to abuse.

This is specifically captured in one category explored below relating to the experiences of abuse for people at risk. While this is typically applied to children, elderly adults, and people with disabilities, other at risk communities also exist.

As a person with an intersex variation you may or may not feel that this category describes you, and you may be more likely to feel like this describes your experience if you have an intersectional identity as a disabled or elderly person, a person of colour or ethnic identity or if you are a minor. This category may also feel like it applies to you if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a refugee, a migrant, or come from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.

Not all intersex people feel that their innate variation in sex characteristics makes them a vulnerable person, and we all relate to our variations in distinct ways. However, for many intersex people, shared experiences of systemic injustice, medical harm, a lack of information and other such considerations can leave us feeling unsupported or on the back foot when navigating relationships. Sometimes the harm we experience might even be invisible to even ourselves, as our societies perpetuate expectations of people’s bodies, gender, and sexualities that might make you feel “less than’ or not good enough.

While it is not the case for everyone with a variation in sex characteristics, it is a common experience to feel the need to explain, disclose or have conversations with our loved ones about our variation and what this means to us and for our relationships. This doesn’t need to be something that is difficult, however, for some people it can be a daunting experience full of uncertainty. This is particularly the case where there is a lack of information or no history of having these conversations in open and non-judgemental ways.

Unfortunately, some people’s early interactions and experiences around talking about their variation were coupled with a sense of shame, secrecy and even guilt around the variation itself, or how they were treated as a result. How well these conversations are received, and even just the position of feeling the need to discuss this with a partner, can produce a type of power imbalance that may make an intersex person feel vulnerable in their relationships.

Where a person has previously experienced harm and trauma resulting from this, it can be difficult to recognise subsequent experiences of harm, especially when they may not be obvious. The experience of early medical intervention or non-consensual medical intervention is an experience shared by many intersex people that can produce this kind of harm and trauma. When a person’s consent or boundaries are not respected, we can come to expect that this will happen again, and in other settings, making it difficult to identify some of the early indicators and warning signs of abuse.

It’s important to acknowledge that some relationships do not begin unhealthy or abusive. Rather, abuse may escalate over time with problematic and unsafe behaviours being introduced gradually and or with increasing frequency as the relationship progresses. These behaviours may also appear as initial “red flags” in the beginning of a relationship that are overlooked or justified away.

Some specific examples of abuse for people with an IVSC:

Restricting or denying access to medications and healthcare such as hormones and/or desired surgeries.
Threatening to disclose your intersex variation or medical history as a form of manipulation, coercion or punishment.
Threatening to, or actually sharing intimate images of you without your consent.
Pressuring you to conform to gender norms such as forcing adherence to societal expectations of gender expression.This may look like pressure to remove or grow out body and facial hair, controlling what clothes you wear or how you express yourself and relate to your body.
Coercing you into unwanted medical treatments
Deliberately misgendering you or referring to you, or your body, using words you find hurtful or offensive.
Sexually touching you (or threatening to touch you) in ways that you have said you are uncomfortable with, that deliberately hurt or shame you, or that do not align with your gender.
Dismissing or belittling your IVSC, womanhood/manhood or the ways in which you understand yourself
Controlling social or community connections for example, preventing access to peer support networks and peer-led organisations.
Body shaming you in relation to your variation, anatomy, fertility or sexual function.

What are some of these behaviours?

Abuse and abusive behaviours can be varied and difficult to classify, many behaviours and types of abuse overlap, and it is common for people experiencing abuse to experience and be exposed to multiple forms. Click below to read more about some of the common types of abuse.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is used to describe actions and behaviours that causes, exposes or threatens you with physical harm, violence or injury. Besides acts of violence, physical abuse can look like damage or theft of your belongings, coerced or forced substance use, control or restriction of prescribed medication, threats, and intimidation.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is a form of physical abuse that is sexual in nature. Sexual abuse may occur alongside other physical abuse such as violence and threats. Besides sexual assault, this form of abuse may also include exposure to unsolicited nudity, pornography or sexualised materials, sexual harassment, coerced sexual activity, restriction or tampering with contraceptives or access to abortion and pregnancy-related healthcare. Sexual abuse may also occur with technological abuse through the non-consensual sharing of sexual images and nudity or unwanted exposure to these materials.
If you have an IVSC it may be difficult to recognise some behaviours that count as sexual abuse. Any unwanted questioning, comments or attention around your genitalia or inappropriate comments about your body can fall under sexual abuse. In a relationship this may look like a partner disclosing your IVSC, describing your body or how you have sex to their friends or other people without your knowledge or consent, as well as sharing or threatening to share intimate photos of you. Importantly, the non-consensual sharing of intimate photos is illegal across Australia.

Abuse for People at Risk

These forms of abuse relate to any kind of abuse targeted towards members of the community who are at greater risk of experiencing abuse. This includes children (anyone who is under 18 years of age), the elderly (older adults) and/or people with a disability. People who are at risk often have care needs that rely on assistance from other people, particularly with personal care activities such as toilet use and personal hygiene. These support needs can expose members of the community to higher rates of abuse than those who do not require such support. This form of abuse is often physical or sexual in nature, however, can also involve financial abuse and other types of abuse.

Domestic and Family Violence

This is often used to describe a range or combination of types of abuse that occur within a family or household. Typically this type of abuse involves physical, verbal, emotional and financial abuse, however it may also include other forms of abuse. When this occurs between a married couple it is sometimes called “spousal abuse”, however a couple does not need to be married for domestic and family violence to occur. This type of abuse may also include vulnerable persons abuse where a child, elderly adult or a disabled member of the household is experiencing the abuse. It may also be non-direct, as when a child bears witness to the abuse of a parent.

Verbal Abuse

Verbal abuse often also incorporates emotional abuse. It relates to abusive words, commentary, threats and intimidation in the absence of physical or sexual abuse, though verbal abuse may be used alongside these behaviours. Verbally abusive language generally aims to humiliate, embarrass or degrade an individual and might include swearing, shouting, name calling, put downs, berating or constantly blaming a person for things beyond their control. Verbal abuse may also be used to frighten or intimidate someone by making them feel alone, worthless or undeserving of love, affection or kindness.
For someone with an IVSC verbal abuse may include disparaging comments and denigration about how their IVSC affects them and the relationship. This can look like abusive comments around sexual function and performance, fertility, the cost of assisted reproductive technology and threatening to leave or end the relationship because of the person’s IVSC or if they do not resolve or finance treatments to address these issues..

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can be thought of as a form of verbal abuse, though while it shares a lot in common with verbal abuse it can also include a sustained pattern of physical behaviours such as stalking, intentionally withholding affection in order to control or manipulate a person, silent treatments (stonewalling) and ignoring a person, risk-taking behaviours designed to threaten or manipulate a person, such as threatening self-harm or suicide,or even blackmail. Emotional abuse is often designed to control a person, isolate them from their friends and family and embarrass or humiliate them. Emotional abuse may contain verbal abuse used to convince someone that they are unworthy or undeserving of kindness, love and support, and can be used to keep people trapped in abusive situations and relationships by contributing to a sense of hopelessness or worthlessness. For people with an IVSC emotional abuse may look like or involve threatening to disclose your diagnosis, variation or medical history with others without your consent. This can be used to manipulate, bribe or coerce you into participating in things you do not want to or tolerating other abusive behaviours.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is another controlling pattern of behaviour that denies a person independence through control or misuse of their finances. It may include withholding or controlling a person’s access to their own money or assets, restricting access to employment or the workplace, harassing them at their workplace or threatening their employment. It may also include intentionally placing a person into debt, negatively impacting their credit score, theft or financial blackmail.

Technological Abuse

Technological abuse is a specific type of abuse that has emerged and rapidly expanded as technology has improved and grown in functionality and popularity. Technological abuse relates to any abusive behaviours driven or facilitated by technology. This may involve demanding access to your mobile phone, devices, social media or passwords, monitoring your phone calls, text messages and social media use, hacking into your accounts and emails, stalking and monitoring your location using technology or sharing your private information via social media.

Medical Abuse

Medical abuse is complex, relating to cases and situations where medical professionals and staff have acted in an unsafe, non-consensual or negligent manner during their provision of care and engagement with you. This may include non-compliant ways of working, not listening to your concerns or complaints, coercion, or proceeding with a treatment or examination you have not consented to. This type of abuse can produce specific types of physical and psychological harm, trauma and distrust of medical systems and settings. It may involve taking photos of your body without consent or with coercion, medical curiosity and inappropriate questioning or a procedure during surgery that you never consented to or discussed. It can also involve the refusal to perform a procedure on you that you have given personal informed consent to,, or medications that you want to try but that may go against the clinician’s belief.

Identity-Based Abuse

Identity-based abuse describes abusive behaviours designed to isolate you from your communities and/or cultures through repeated acts of verbal and emotional abuse. This kind of abuse may try to control or influence the way you think or feel about a group of people, or degrade and dehumanise you for belonging to a specific cultural, spiritual, religious or ethnic group. It is often tied to forms of bigotry such as racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, homophobia, or transphobia. For people with an IVSC Identity-base abuse is discrimination or abusive treatment that occurs on the basis of having an innate variation/s in sex characteristics It can involve patterns of insulting your beliefs or practices, disparaging comments about particular groups or demographics, limiting or restricting you from accessing your community, attending events or participating in cultural or religious practices. It may also involve repeatedly expressing bigoted attitudes about communities to which you belong. At the more extreme ends it may include hate-speech or hate crimes against particular groups/demographics.

When should I say something?

It can be hard to speak out, find support or even talk about experiencing abuse even when we know and trust the people around us. It can also be difficult to know what to do if you are concerned that someone you know is experiencing abuse without feeling like you are being nosey, overstepping or involving yourself in a private matter.

As abuse is often a pattern of behaviour that is built up over time, and can appear quite subtle at first, it is important to reach out for support as early as possible if you notice or are concerned about signs of abuse. Abuse can also be difficult to identify from an outside perspective, so if you are concerned that a loved one is experiencing it, it is best to address this with them, or if necessary those around them if you are certain that they are not the cause of the abuse.

“Saying something” may look like talking to a trusted friend or family member, raising your concerns with the person you think may be experiencing abuse in their relationship, speaking with your doctor, counsellor or therapist, or researching and contacting local services and organisations for more information and support.

Professionals such as doctors, counsellors and therapists can help you process what has happened, your emotions surrounding the abuse, the relationship, and may be able to help you with strategies, a plan, or even referrals to external support to help you address the situation. Where appropriate a doctor or specialist can help you manage any symptoms or mental health concerns such as resultant anxiety, depression or trauma with medication.

Community organisations and services are also available to provide tailored support, referrals and advice where needed and may offer free, discounted or subsidised counselling or therapy with a practitioner who specialises in abuse, group therapy or activities for people in a similar situation to you, legal aid, assistance with accessing services, relocating or supporting yourself such as peer workers, case managers or care coordination among many other forms of assistance.

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, stalking or harassment you can also report this to the local police.
If you suspect or know that you or someone you know is in immediate danger contact emergency services on 000.

See below for more information about services you can access nationally and in your local area.

Where can I get support?

The following services offer specialised support and information around sexual, domestic and family violence, elder abuse and other forms of abuse. These services may have variable or lacking understanding of intersex variations, people with innate variations of sex characteristics and/or the specific needs and experiences faced by our community.

National Services

1800RESPECT (National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service)
1800 737 732
https://1800respect.org.au/
24-hour National Hotline for family and domestic violence and sexual assault

Relationships Australia 1300 364 277
https://www.relationships.org.au/
Advice, support and counselling to foster safe and healthy relationships

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
https://kidshelpline.com.au/
24/7 free confidential and private counselling service for people aged 5-25

FullStop Australia 1800 385 578
https://fullstop.org.au/
Provides sexual, domestic and family violence response and recovery services. Offers free, 24/7, confidential, trauma specialist counselling to people of all genders who have been subject to sexual, domestic and family violence, as well as their friends, colleagues and family members.

Your Toolkit
https://yourtoolkit.com/
A free, step-by-step guide on personal safety, support services and money matters for people facing family and domestic violence.

Blue Knot Foundation 1300 657 380 9am-5pm
https://blueknot.org.au/
Phone counselling for adult survivors of childhood trauma, their friends, family and the health care professionals who support them

1800ELDERHelp Line 1800 353 374
Directs to your state or territory service

National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline 1800 880 052
Phone service for reporting neglect or abuse of a person with a disability.

Headspace
https://headspace.org.au/
Mental Health support and services for young people and families. Find your local service here.

QLife 1800 184 527
https://qlife.org.au/
Anonymous support and referrals for LGBTIQA+ people experiencing distress or abuse

Say it Out Loud
https://sayitoutloud.org.au/?state=all
Provides information, resources and support for LGBTIQA+ people around healthy relationships and for those experiencing distress or abuse. Can redirect to local state and territory services

13YARN 13 92 76 24/7
https://www.13yarn.org.au/
13YARN is a confidential crisis support line. You can yarn one-on-one with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supporters.

eSafetyCommissioner
https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/domestic-family-violence
Information, advice and support around protecting yourself from and dealing with online and technological abuse

SAMSN 1800 472 676
https://www.samsn.org.au/
Counselling and support for male survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters.

The Line 1800 695 463
https://www.theline.org.au/
A national relationships helpline for young Australians to talk to someone about the relationship issues they may be experiencing, or if they are unclear about where to draw the line between what is, or is not, a respectful relationship.

ACT

ACT Child and Youth Protection Services 1300 556 729
https://www.act.gov.au/directorates-and-agencies/community-services-directorate/act-child-and-youth-protection-services
The ACT child protection service. 24/7.

ACT Victim support 1800 822 272 or (02) 6205 2066
https://www.hrc.act.gov.au/victim-support
Services and programs for victims of crime and their families.

Domestic Violence Crisis Service (02) 6280 0900
https://www.dvcs.org.au/
Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) is a specialist service. DVCS is available 24/7 to help you in an emergency. They can come to you if the police attend a violent incident.

YWCA Domestic Violence Support Service (02) 6185 2000
https://ywca-canberra.org.au/community-service/domestic-violence-support/
The YWCA Domestic Violence Support Service is a free and confidential service. They help women and children impacted by domestic and family violence. You can get information and advice to help you stay safe. You can also get help to understand your legal options, including applying for a Family Violence Order.

Child At Risk Health Unit (CARHU) (02) 5124 2712
https://www.canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/services-and-clinics/services/child-at-risk-health-unit-carhu
Support and therapy for children aged 0-14 and their families and carers in the ACT who have concerns of child abuse or neglect Crisis services are also offered at CARHU.

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (02) 6247 2525
https://crcc.org.au/
The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre can help you if you have experienced sexual violence. This includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, child sexual assault or sexualised behaviour. It doesn’t matter if the violence happened recently or a long time ago.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women can get culturally sensitive support through the CRCC Nguru Program.

Older Persons Abuse Prevention and Information Line (02) 6205 3535
Information, support and referrals relating to the abuse of older people

Doris Women's Refuge Inc (02) 6278 9999 24 hours
Doris helps women and children experiencing domestic violence. They provide supported accommodation through a OneLink referral. You can also get advice, information and referrals to other services you need.

Beryl Women Inc (02) 6230 6900
https://www.beryl.org.au/
Beryl is a service for all women, with or without children, experiencing domestic and family violence. Beryl provides culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and women from and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Toora Women Inc. domestic violence (02) 6247 2399 counselling (02) 6122 7070.
https://www.toora.org.au/
Toora supports women experiencing domestic and family violence with practical and personal support. You can get help if you need somewhere safe to stay or other counselling services.

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service (02) 6284 6222,
https://www.winnunga.org.au/
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services is an Aboriginal Community Controlled organisation. It provides a culturally safe, holistic health care service.

NSW

Child Protection Helpline 132 111
The NSW child protection service. 24/7.

NSW Domestic Violence Line 1800 65 64 63
24/7 Phone line to assist people experiencing and escaping domestic and family violence.

NSW Sexual Violence Helpline 1800 424 017
This helpline is for anyone affected by sexual assault, including their families. 24/7

NSW Health Sexual Assault Services https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/parvan/sexualassault/Pages/health-sas-services.aspx
Directory of free services including information, crisis counselling, medical care and forensic examination and ongoing counselling and support groups across NSW

NSW Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit 1800 528 221
A free, anonymous service that provides information, support and referrals relating to the abuse of older people

NSW Aging and Disability Abuse Helpline 1800 628 221
Information or reporting concerns of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people and adults with a disability.

Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre
https://www.wagec.org.au/
Service that supports women and families in crisis when experiencing domestic and family violence.

Domestic Violence NSW
https://www.dvnsw.org.au/
The peak body for specialist domestic and family violence services in New South Wales

Domestic Violence NSW Service Management (DVSM)
https://dvnswsm.org.au/
Support for people escaping/experiencing domestic and family violence and homelessness. DVSM provides support services across New South Wales

VIC

Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1800 806 292, 5 pm-9 am
This is a crisis counselling service for people who have experienced sexual assault.

Safe and Equal
https://safeandequal.org.au/
Safe and Equal is the peak body for specialist family violence services that provide support to victim survivors in Victoria.

Victorian Government: Families & children
https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/families-and-children
This is a service for reporting concerns about a child.
Local services are listed on the website.
Contact services 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday.
Contact the After Hours Child Protection Emergency Service on
131 278 after hours and on weekends.

Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817 or text 0427 767 891 (8am to 11pm every day)
Information and support for victims of family violence and victims of violent crime.

Seniors Rights Victoria 1300 368 821
https://seniorsrights.org.au/
A free service that provides information, support and referrals relating to the abuse of older people

Safe Steps 1800 015 188
https://safesteps.org.au/
Victoria’s 24/7 family violence response centre for confidential crisis support, information and accommodation.

The Orange Door
https://www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au/
The Orange Door provides help and support for family violence, as well to as families in need of support with the wellbeing and development of children.

Rainbow Door 1800 729 367 or text 0480 017 246 (10am to 5pm)
https://www.rainbowdoor.org.au/
Rainbow Door provides free specialist advice to LGBTIQ+ people and their friends and families including around family and intimate partner violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault.

Drummond Street/Queerspace (03) 9663 6733
(9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and until 8pm on Tuesdays)
https://www.queerspace.org.au/
Family violence counselling and support for any LGBTIQ+ person, their family or friends, who are affected by family violence.

Djirra 1800 105 303 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
https://djirra.org.au/
Telephone counselling service for Aboriginal people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.

Elizabeth Morgan House (EMH) (03) 9403 9400
(9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm Friday)
https://www.emhaws.org.au/
Refuge accommodation and specialist family violence services for Aboriginal women and their children. EMH welcomes LGBTIQA+ people who feel comfortable accessing a women’s service.

InTouch - Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence 1800 755 988
(9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
https://intouch.org.au/
Free and confidential support services for migrant and refugee women.

QLD

WWILD – Sexual Violence Prevention Association (07) 3262 9877
https://wwild.org.au/
Information, counseling and support for victims of sexual abuse

Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network (QDVSN)
https://qdvsn.com/
Queensland Domestic Violence Service Network (QDVSN) is a network of 19 Queensland regional domestic violence services.

Bravehearts 1800 272 831, 8.30 am-4.30 pm, Monday-Friday.
https://bravehearts.org.au/
Bravehearts provides information and counselling for children who have experienced child sexual abuse and those who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour.

Laurel Place
https://www.laurelplace.com.au/contact-us
For individuals who have experienced sexual abuse and their families

Queensland Regional Intake Services https://www.dcssds.qld.gov.au/contact-us/department-contacts/child-family-contacts/child-safety-service-centres/regional-intake-services
This is a service for reporting concerns about a child. Local services are listed on the website:
Contact services 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday.
Contact the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre on 1800 177 135 after hours and on weekends.

Elder Abuse Prevention Unit 1300 651 192
A free service that provides information, support and referrals relating to the abuse of older people

Elder Abuse Help Line 1300 651 192
https://eapu.com.au/elder-abuse-helpline/
Free service offering information and support for people experiencing or witnessing elder abuse

DV Connect - Womensline 1800 811 811 Mensline 1800 600 636
Free help for people affected by domestic and family violence across Queensland. 24hrs/day

DV Connect - Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120, 7.30am – 11.30pm
Free help for people affected by sexual violence across Queensland.

Kurbingui Youth and Family Development (07) 3156 4800
https://www.kurbingui.org.au/
A Not-For-Profit (NFP) Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation providing confidential service that provides support and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people impacted by Domestic and Family Violence. It provides a culturally responsive support service and links to services for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander individuals and families impacted by domestic and family violence.

Domestic Violence Action Centre – Domestic and Family Violence Service
Ipswich - (07) 3816 3000; Toowoomba - (07) 4642 1354 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
https://dvac.org.au/
The Domestic Violence Action Centre provides free and confidential services for people experiencing domestic, family, and sexual violence,

Centre Against Domestic Abuse Inc. (CADA)
http://www.cada.org.au/
Safe, accessible and appropriate services that contribute to the prevention of domestic and family violence in the community, and which support and empower people affected by domestic and family violence, using a range of services, including crisis support, keeping safe at home program, adult counselling, children’s counselling, court assistance, and strengthening family connections program.

Immigrant Women’s Support Service (07) 3846 3490
https://iwss.org.au/
IWSS offers free confidential, practical and emotional support to immigrant and refugee women from non-English speaking backgrounds and their children who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence.

Talera Carinity (07) 3550 3737
https://carinity.org.au/our-services/communities/domestic-family-violence/
A counselling service providing specialised therapeutic support to children who have experienced abuse and neglect, or have witnessed Domestic Violence, and their caregivers.

Uniting Care’s Safe Spaces Child and Young Person Counselling Service (07) 5452 9797
https://www.unitingcareqld.com.au/services-and-support/family-support/domestic-and-family-violence
Counselling for Sunshine Coast youth aged up to 18 years who are currently encountering, have experienced, or at risk of suffering domestic and or family violence or high risk, complex parental conflict.

99 Steps (07) 3412 8221 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
https://www.ssi.org.au/our-services/domestic-family-violence/99-steps/
Provides domestic violence counselling, casement management, information and referral, advocacy, court support and other assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, youth and culturally and linguistically diverse women and families affected by domestic and family violence

Queensland Local Services Finder https://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/support-victims-abuse/need-to-know/help-and-support-options/find-local-support
A directory of local services for people experiencing abuse across Queensland.

WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre (08) 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888, 24.7
https://www.kemh.health.wa.gov.au/other-services/sarc
This is a service for anyone who has experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse.

WA Department of Communities – Child protection 1800 273 889 during business hours.
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/child-protection
This is the WA child protection service:
Call the Crisis Care Unit on 1800 199 008 after hours and on weekends.

Advocare 1300 724 679 (Perth) 1800 655 566 (Rural WA)
https://www.advocare.org.au/
A free service that provides information, support and referrals relating to the abuse of older people

Women's Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 007 339 or (02) 9223 1188
Phone counselling for women experiencing domestic and family violence

Men's Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 000 599
Phone counselling for men experiencing domestic and family violence

NPY Women’s Council (08) 8958 2345
https://www.npywc.org.au/
This service accepts referrals from women living on the NPY Lands (cross borders region of SA, NT and WA) who have experienced the impacts of intimate partner, family or other forms of lateral violence.

Djinda Service (08) 6164 0650.
https://www.relationshipswa.org.au/Services/Aboriginal-Community-Support/Djinda-Service
Advocacy and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children in the Perth metropolitan area who have experienced family violence or sexual assault.

The Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence (08) 9300 0340.
https://www.patgilescentre.org.au/
Individual counselling, group programs, camps and family day outings for children aged 4 to 18, who have witnessed and/or experienced violence in the family.

Sudbury Community House 0428 960 382
https://www.sudburyhouse.org.au/
Support to women and children impacted by domestic and family violence

Parkerville Parents and Children’s Therapeutic Services (PACTS) (08) 9235 7000
https://parkerville.org.au/what-we-do/therapeutic-services/child-sexual-abuse-therapy-services
Provides specialised therapeutic services to those families who have been affected by child sexual abuse

Centrecare’s Specialised Family Violence Service – for children and young people
Perth (08) 9325 6644, Bunbury (08) 9721 5177, Esperance (08) 9083 2600,
Joondalup (08) 9300 7300, Kalgoorlie (08) 9080 0333, Midland (08) 9436 0600 and Mirrabooka (08) 9440 0400.
https://www.centrecare.com.au/
individual and family support including counselling and group programs to those affected by domestic and family violence, including young people and children who experience and witness family violence.

Allambee (Mandurah) Family and Children’s Domestic Violence Services (08) 9535 8263
Sexual Violence: https://www.allambee.org.au/specialised-sexual-violence-counselling
Domestic Violence: https://www.allambee.org.au/specialised-family-domestic-violence-counselling
Counselling and support for people who have experienced, or been exposed to, family and domestic violence or sexual assault

Waratah Sexual Assault Support Service (08) 9791 2884
https://www.waratah.asn.au/
Specialised free counselling, support and therapeutic intervention services for people aged 13+ who have been sexually abused and or sexually assaulted.The service includes 24/7 crisis response intervention as well as individual counselling, telephone counselling, group therapy support sessions, community education sessions, training for professionals, service networking and organisational development.

Anglicare Specialised Family Violence Service 1300 114 446
https://www.anglicarewa.org.au/get-help/family-and-domestic-violence/specialised-family-violence-service
Support and counselling for families, couples, children and individuals who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, or witnessing family and domestic violence.

Child Protection Helpline 1800 700 250
The NT child protection service. 24/7.

NT sexual assault referral centres
https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/hospitals-health-services/sexual-assault-referral-centres
These centres provide support to people who have experience sexual assault.

(08) 8922 6472 – Darwin, 24/7
(08) 8973 8524 – Katherine
(08) 8962 4361 – Tennant Creek
(08) 8955 4500 – Alice Springs, 24/7

COTA Elder Abuse Information Line 1800 037 072
Information, support and referrals relating to the abuse of older people living in the Northern Territory.

Women's Safety Services of Central Australia (08) 8953 7648
https://www.wossca.org.au/
Support services for women and children in Alice Springs and the remote communities of Ti Tree, Ntaria, Yuendumu and Papunya.

Tangentyere Council (Alice Springs)
https://www.tangentyere.org.au/community-safety
An Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation offering a range of supports and services including family and domestic violence services.

YWCA - Domestic and Family Violence Centre Darwin (08) 8932 9155
https://www.ywca.org.au/support/domestic-and-family-violence-centre-darwin/
Services, support and advocacy around safety for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

Ruby Gaea Darwin Centre Against Sexual Violence 08 8945 0155
https://dcasv.net.au/
Support and counselling for people who have experienced sexual violence and abuse.

Katherine Women’s Crisis Centre (08) 8972 1332
https://kwcc.org.au/
Crisis accommodation, outreach and counselling for women and children experiencing and escaping abuse

Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge (08) 8962 1940
https://tcwr.org.au/
Crisis accommodation, outreach and counselling for women and children experiencing and escaping abuse

Northern Territory Government Domestic, family and sexual violence services finder
https://nt.gov.au/law/crime/domestic-family-and-sexual-violence
A directory of local services for people experiencing abuse across the NT.

SA Department of Child Protection 131 478, 24/7
https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/
This is a service to report concerns about a child.

Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Child Protection Services (08) 8161 8168
9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday.
https://www.wch.sa.gov.au/patients-visitors/children/care-and-support/child-protection
This is a service for children who have experienced child sexual abuse or who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour.

24 hour Domestic Violence Crisis Line 1800 800 098
Crisis counselling, support and referral to safe accommodation for women and families

Women's Information Service 8303 0590
https://officeforwomen.sa.gov.au/womens-information-service/find-information-online
Referrals to domestic violence services and safety information.

Nunga Mi:Minar - Northern Regional Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service 8367 6474 A support service for Aboriginal women and their children experiencing or escaping family violence.

Migrant Women's Support Program (MWSP) 8152 9260
https://womenssafetyservices.com.au/culturally-linguistically-diverse-clients/
A specific service for women of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds who are in unsafe relationships provided by the Women’s Safety Services SA.

Safe Pets Safe Families 0490 818 879
https://safepetssafefamilies.org.au/
Support and crisis services for people escaping domestic violence who have pets. Specialised supports to keep families and their pets together.

Specialised Family Violence Service 1300 364 277
https://www.rasa.org.au/support/services/specialised-family-violence-services/
Support and counselling services for families experiencing domestic violence. Supports are available to families, individuals and children and are inclusive of people in same-sex relationships.

Understanding Abuse in Relationships