Immediate assistance
If you are in immediate danger, call the Police on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family violence you can visit 1800 RESPECT or call 1800 737 732 (24 hours), the national counselling service for specialist support and advice.
What is the quick exit button
If you need to leave the website quickly, our ‘Quick exit’ button will take you to a Google search page.
Our ‘Quick exit’ button will not delete the pages you have looked at in your browser history.
To learn how to do this, visit Web browsers - eSafety Women.
What is Family Violence?
Everybody has the right to feel safe and not live in fear. This includes feeling secure in your own family household. In Australia, it is against the law to be hurt or controlled by any member of your family, including your partner, children and in-laws. This is known as family violence, and it is an issue that is taken very seriously.
Family violence includes:
- Any type of physical violence, such as slapping or punching
- Being forced to do sexual things, even if you are married or in a relationship
- Making threats or any kind of verbal abuse, including name calling
- Denying access to money
- Controlling contact with people outside the family
- Children witnessing this abuse
An environment of family violence is particularly harmful for children, even if they are not the directly affected by violence.
Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, such as a family member or friend. It may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual.
If you or someone that you know is experiencing elder abuse, you can contact one of the above services Seniors Rights Victoria for information and support.
It is never your fault
Often, people affected by family violence feel alone and isolated, perhaps even guilty or feel like they deserve the violence or control put upon them. As a result, many suffer the effects of family violence alone, and instances go unreported. If you are worried about someone, or need to seek help yourself, contact the following support services. In an emergency, contact Police on 000 (Triple Zero).
Family Violence Support Services
| Organisation | Service | Contact | Web |
| The Orange Door | Information, support and referral | 1800 271 170 sma@orangedoor.vic.gov.au | |
| 1800RESPECT | 24hr family violence and sexual assault help | 1800 737 732 text 0458 737 732 Online Chat available | www.1800RESPECT.org.au |
| WAYSS | Provides housing | 9791 6111 After hours 1800 627 727 | https://www.wayss.org.au/ |
| SECASA | Sexual assault and family violence help | 9928 8741 | https://www.secasa.org.au/ |
| Safe Steps | For women and children impacted by family violence | 1800 015 188 (24hrs) | http://safesteps.org.au/ |
| Men’s Line | Counselling support for men experiencing or using violence | 1300 78 99 78 24hours | Free help, referrals & counselling for men: MensLine Australia |
| Men’s Referral Service | For men using controlling behaviour, women seeking information and friends, family or colleagues of people who are using their experiencing family violence | 1300 766 491 (8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday) | NTV | Men’s Referral Service |
| Victims of Crime Helpline | For adult male victims of family violence and victims of violent crime. | 1800 819 817 or text 0427 767 891 (8am to 11pm every day) | Victims of Crime | victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au |
| Kids Helpline | A free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25 years. | 1800 55 1800 (24 hours) | Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 |
| Sexual Assault Crisis Line | For victim-survivors of sexual assault | 1800 806 292 (24hours) | Sexual Assault Crisis Line » Sexual Assault Crisis Line (sacl.com.au) |
| Djirra | Counselling support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experiencing family violence and sexual assault. | 1800 105 303 (9am to 5pm Mon-Fri) | https://djirra.org.au/ |
| Dardi Munwurro | Aboriginal Men’s Referral Crisis Line | 1800 959 563 (24hours) | Home - Dardi Munwurro |
| Yarning SafeNStrong | Support and referral line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, family and allies. | 1800 959 563 (24 hours) | Yarning SafeNStrong | VAHS |
| InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence | In-language support for migrant and refugee women experiencing family violence. | 1800 755 988 (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday) | Home - inTouch |
| Switchboard Victoria Q-life | Support and referral service for the LGBTIQ+ community and their allies. | 1800 184 527 (3pm – 12am, 7 days) webchat available | QLife — Switchboard Victoria |
| Rainbow Door | Support and referral service for the LGBTIQ+ community and their allies; interpreters available. | 1800 729 367; Text: 0480 017 246 (10am – 6pm, 7 days) | Rainbow Door |
Council’s Family Violence Domestic Pets Assistance Program offers to temporarily care for the domestic pets of those leaving a situation of family violence for up to 14 days. It is hoped that this time will provide pet owners with the space they need to find safe, longer-term accommodation.
To access this program, pet owners can request their support agency contact Council on 9705 5200 to request an admittance form.
Council's commitment
Casey has a longstanding commitment to gender equality and the prevention of family violence. Council is a signatory to the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter.
We recognise that opportunities and access are not equally given throughout society. Council addresses this by creating fairer systems for its staff and the community. We want to empower our residents.
Local government plays a key role in achieving gender equality and preventing family violence. It is now a legal responsibility under the Gender Equality Act 2020. The Act requires all Victorian councils to promote gender equality in the workplace and community.
Key initiatives
The City of Casey has launched its Safe and Equal Casey: Gender Equality and Prevention of Violence Against Women Strategic Plan 2022-2032.
Developed in consultation with local residents, community organisations and sector experts, the ten-year plan outlines how Council will deliver on its commitment to gender equality, with four strategic objectives:
- Foster communities in Casey that are inclusive, support and promote gender equality, and reject violence against women
- Work with partners and community in supporting gender equality and developing and implementing prevention of violence against women initiatives
- Ensure Council services, programs and policies are gender equitable, and inclusive of strategies preventing violence against women
- Build an organisational culture that is safe and equitable, where all employees can bring their whole selves to work
Council's Gender Equality Action Plan 2022-2026 aims to promote gender equality and prevent family violence within the workplace and the community. It aims to do this through the design and delivery of Council programs and services. The Plan follows:
Council also supports preventing family violence and promoting gender equality by:
- Employing dedicated Gender Equality and Prevention of Family Violence Officers
- Providing training and support to the community
- Partnering with community service groups to support important work happening within Casey