Family violence is horrific and often paralysing for victim-survivors. For those who make the decision to leave, this is the most dangerous time of all.
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In regional areas, the choice can be even more difficult and dangerous, with police and specialist services further away, less housing and less anonymity making it that much harder to disappear.
For mother of five, Grace*, the obstacles were too great and she decided to stay.
She lived on a rural property with dozens of animals her children were closely attached to. It would have been a huge challenge for her to leave with the children, but there was nowhere to take the animals.
"My husband had threatened the animals and he had killed one of our dogs, to show us all that he meant business," Grace said.
"Leaving the animals really would have been sentencing some of them to a horrible death."
Some family violence services simply weren't an option for her.
"I wouldn't have gone into an Orange Door because everyone in the community would know what I was going in there for," Grace said.
"My boy was also 13 by then and there are rules about the age of boys who can come into refuges."
Victoria spends more than the rest of Australia's states and territories put together, but there are still gaps in the system, especially in regional areas.
But Safe Steps CEO Chelsea Tobin told ACM it was important for women to know there was always a number to call if they were experiencing family violence.
Safe Steps is the only statewide round-the-clock specialist family violence service in Victoria, Ms Tobin said.
"We are there 24/7, 365 days for all Victorians," she said.
"So there is the 1800 number they can call at any time.
"We will believe you, and we will support you to safety."
But while Safe Steps is an incredibly valuable resource, there are countless other services depending on where you live.
Statewide
Police
If you're feeling unsafe now, call 000
1800RESPECT
1800RESPECT can support people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing family violence. They provide confidential information and counselling and can provide a referral to other services.
The service is also available for workers and friends and family who need advice.
This service offers tailored support for:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, older people
Service offered:
24/7 and after hours Statewide Sexual assault service
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre
Contact: 1800 015 188, email: safesteps@safesteps.org.au
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre is Victoria's only 24/7 family and domestic violence crisis response centre.
They provide a range of support services for all people experiencing or afraid of family and domestic violence in Victoria. Safe Steps services include information and referral, crisis response, specialist family and domestic violence risk assessment, safety planning, and access to supported crisis accommodation. The support is via phone, email, or live chat.
Ballarat
Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC)
BADAC is the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation for the Ballarat and district area, covering four local government areas (LGAs).
BADAC's Koorie Family Services programs strengthen and support Aboriginal families in the local community. These programs are delivered in a culturally aware, confidential and empowering way.
Contact: 03 5331 5344
Orange Door - Central Highlands
Intake and access to support services for adults, children and young people who are experiencing violence, families who need support with the care and well being of children and young people, and people who use violence.
Contact: 1800 219 819, email: cha@orangedoor.vic.gov.au
Berry Street (Western Region)
Berry Street provides phone and face-to-face support, including supports for victim survivors of all genders and for people who use violence, risk assessments, safety planning, referrals to emergency accommodation, therapeutic services for children, court and legal support in the Centrals Highlands area. They also run the Mother Infant Village, a safe and nurturing environment for mothers and children who have experienced family violence in Ballarat.
Contact: 5330 5000, after hours (Central Highlands): 5331 3558
WRISC Family Violence Support
WRISC provides support for all women and children affected by family violence.
WRISC is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free and confidential services for women and children only, irrespective of disability, ethnicity, indigenous or tribal status, race, religion, or gender identity.
Contact: 03 5333 3666, email: wrisc@wrisc.org.au
Warrnambool
The Orange Door - Warrnambool
The Orange Door Warrnambool provides access to support and services for people at risk, including for family and domestic violence or abuse, and for families needing extra support with the wellbeing and development of children.
Contact: 1800 271 180
South West Centre Against Sexual Assault
24/7 telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault.
Contact: 5564 4144, after hours: 1800 806 292
Emma House
Emma House offers safety planning, crisis response and material aid, counselling and support, parenting support, information on housing options, legal and court support, and family violence education. They work with victim survivors affected by family violence through self-referral or formal referral; servicing Warrnambool and its surroundings.
Contact: 1800 366 238, email: emmahouse@safvcentre.org.au
Gunditijmara Aboriginal Co-operative
Gunditijmara Aboriginal Co-operative provides case management, advocacy and support for Aboriginal women and their children who have or are currently experiencing family violence throughout the South West region. They provide information and referrals to other services that can help where needed.
Contact: 03 5559 1234, email: admin@gunditjmara.org.au
Bendigo
Centre Against Sexual Assault - Central Victoria.
24/7 telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault.
Contact: 1800 806 292, email: www.casacv.org.au/
Centre for Non-Violence
The Centre for Non-Violence provides specialist knowledge and support including safety planning, crisis response, accommodation and therapeutic recovery programs across the Loddon region. Through the Young Women's Housing Program, they provide support and accommodation for single women aged 15-25, many of whom are seeking refuge from family violence.
Contact: 1800 884 292, email: reception@cnv.org.au
The Orange Door - Loddon
The Orange Door Loddon provides access to support and services for people at risk, including for family and domestic violence or abuse, and for families needing extra support with the wellbeing and development of children.
Contact: 1800 512 359, email: loddon@orangedoor.vic.gov.au
Annie North
Annie North provides crisis and transitional support and refuge accommodation to women and children who are escaping family violence, or who are homeless due to family violence. Annie North has a statewide catchment and is located in Bendigo within the Loddon region.
Contact: reception@annienorth.org.au
Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd (BDAC)
The BDAC Family Safety Team provides services and programs for community members affected by family violence.
They work with men, women, children and families as a whole, in healing, case management, therapeutic work and prevention. Their work focuses on the safety of the whole family, including working in a culturally safe way, by identifying individual and family strengths and coming from a trauma-informed approach.
Contact: 03 5442 4947
Wodonga
Centre Against Violence
The Centre Against Violence (CAV) offers crisis accommodation, counselling, advocacy and recovery services to victim survivors and children experiencing family violence. CAV operates in the Ovens Murray District, providing services every day of the week in Wangaratta, Wodonga and Benalla, with fortnightly visits to Myrtleford and Mansfield.
Contact: 1800 806 292, email: admin@cav.org.au
The Orange Door - Ovens Murray
The Orange Door Ovens Murray provides access to support and services for people at risk, including for family and domestic violence or abuse, and for families needing extra support with the wellbeing and development of children.
Contact: 1800 271 157, email: oma@orangedoor.vic.gov.au
Gateway Health
Counselling and support for women affected by family violence including the WINGS program which helps women work through the challenges of moving towards a life free from family violence.
They also offer outreach services in Corryong, Tallangatta, Tangambalanga, Kiewa and Mount Beauty as well as specialist children's counselling and men's behaviour change programs including group programs in Wodonga, Wangaratta and Benalla and individual counselling and partner contact support.
Contact: 1800 657 573, Wodonga: 02 6022 8888
*Name has been changed for safety