Getting Help
Most 1800 numbers are a free call from anywhere in Victoria (except those indicated for country callers only). If you have trouble getting through to any of the numbers on this website, call the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817.
Crisis
Police
In an emergency, call the police on 000
Lifeline (24 hour telephone counselling and referral)
Tel: 131 114
Sexual Assault Crisis Line
The Sexual Assault Crisis Line Victoria (SACL) is a state-wide, after-hours, confidential, telephone crisis counselling service for victims or survivors of both past and recent sexual assault.
Tel: 1800 806 292
Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service of Victoria
Tel: 1800 015 188 or 03 9322 3555 (24 hour Crisis Line)
Victims Support Services
Victims of Crime Helpline
Monday to Friday
8am to 11pm (except public holidays)
Tel: 1800 819 817
Staff of the Victims of Crime Helpline can provide information, advice and referrals by phone. The Victims Support Agency, which runs the Helpline, has an after-hours service for victims of crime if police refer them immediately after a crime has occurred.
Local Victim Support Services
Victims Assistance and Counselling Program
If you need crisis assistance or help to recover from the ongoing effects of crime, trained Victims Assistance and Counselling Program team members in metropolitan and regional Victoria can give practical support to you, your family and others affected by the crime. Depending on your situation, they can help with:
- crisis response
- help in making a formal police report and liaising with police
- assistance to find accommodation
- short-term counselling for eligible people (details on the Counselling page)
- access to support groups and help to locate services such as lawyers or legal aid
- information about what happens in court and support with processes, such as completing victim impact statements
- applying to the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal for counselling and financial assistance.
The services below can help you access information, counselling and practical support. Ask to speak to a Victims Assistance and Counselling Program worker.
Metropolitan Melbourne
Area Location Telephone
Northern Merri Community Health Service, Coburg 03 9480 6166
Western Western Region Health Centre, Footscray 03 8398 4178
Southern Windermere Child and Family Services, Narre Warren 03 9705 3200
Eastern Eastern Access Community Health, Ringwood 1300 884 284
Regional Victoria
Area Location Telephone
Bairnsdale Anglicare Gippsland 1800 777 423
Ballarat Centacare 1300 033 818
Bendigo St.Lukes Anglicare 1800 244 323
Geelong Centacare 1300 033 818
Horsham Centacare 1300 033 818
Mildura Sunraysia Community Health Services 03 5022 5400
Morwell Anglicare Gippsland 1800 777 423
Shepparton Goulburn Valley Community Health Centre 03 5831 6967
Wangaratta Ovens and King Community Health Service 03 5723 2038
Warragul Anglicare Gippsland 1800 777 423
Warrnambool Centacare 1300 033 818
Wodonga Gateway Community Health 02 6022 8888
Counselling and financial assistance
Short-term counselling
Some victims of crime are eligible for free short-term counselling (up to five one-hour sessions) through the Victims Assistance and Counselling Program. To be eligible, you must be:
- a primary victim of a violent crime (in Victoria in the past two years, reported to the police)
- a related victim in the case of a homicide (in Victoria, in the past two years, reported to the police)
- a victim of family violence who has been granted an intervention order by a Victorian Court within the past two years.
You can also ask your local doctor to make a referral to a psychologist. Once referred to counselling, you may be able to claim a Medicare rebate.
Longer term
If you are a victim of a crime which occurred in Victoria, and you require assistance to pay for longer-term counselling, you may be eligible to apply to the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT).
Call the Victims of Crime Helpline
Monday to Friday
8am to 11pm (except public holidays)
Tel: 1800 819 817
VOCAT website
Website: www.vocat.vic.gov.au
Tel: 1800 882 752 or 9628 7855
Court support
Witness Assistance Service (WAS)
Available to all victims of crime and witnesses involved in cases being handled by the Office of Public Prosecutions. Specialised social workers can assist victims:
- before, during and after the court process
- with court arrangements
- by providing up-to-date information on the progress of the case
- in relation to hearings in the Magistrates' Court (including committal hearings), County and Supreme Courts, and in the Court of Appeal
- in arranging a pre-court meeting with a lawyer or prosecutor.
Witness Assistance Service
Tel: 03 9603 7523
Country Callers: 1800 641 927
Website: www.opp.vic.gov.au
Court Network
Court network operates its services on-site in the Supreme, County, Coroner's, Family, Children's and Melbourne and district Magistrates' Courts. As a statewide service, Court Network also provides services in the regional courts of Gippsland, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Echuca. Plans are underway to establish new regional court support services at Wodonga, Warrnambool, Mildura and Shepparton.
If you would like someone to support you on the day you go to court, Court Network will provide a trained volunteer. They can provide you with emotional support and information about the court process.
Statewide Court Network telephone and referral service
Monday to Friday
9am to 5pm
Tel: 03 9603 7433 or Free call: 1800 681 614
Website: www.courtnetwork.com.au
Child Witness Service
The Child Witness Service offers specialised support to child witnesses to help them understand, and be prepared for, the court process. Based in the Melbourne court precinct, the Child Witness Service provides a child-friendly environment for children and young people to learn about the court processes and personnel before they need to give evidence.
Tel: 03 9603 9266
Country Callers: 1300 790 540
Specific needs
Indigenous services
The Victims of Crime Support Agency has Indigenous support workers who can help you manage the effects of crime, including keeping safe and financial assistance. To speak to an Indigenous support worker call the Victims of Crime Helpline.
Children's services
Kids Helpline (24 hour telephone counselling for children)
Tel: 1800 551 800
Website: www.kidshelp.com.au
Child Protection Emergency Service (DHS)
Tel: 131 278 (After Hours Child Protection Crisis Line)
Gatehouse Centre Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Tel: 03 9345 6391
Website: www.rch.org.au/gatehouse
Children's Protection Society
Tel: 03 9450 0900
Website: www.cps.org.au
Support for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex communities
Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs)
GLLOs provide discrete, non-judgemental advice and assistance about reporting a crime as well as information about support services. You can contact a GLLO anonymously.
Tel: 03 9247 6944
Email: melbourne.gllo@police.vic.gov.au
Gay & Lesbian Switchboard (Victoria) Inc.
For free, confidential, peer-based telephone counselling, information and referral service.
Tel: 03 9663 2939, Country Callers: 1800 184 527
6pm to 10pm Monday to Thursday,
6pm to 9pm Friday to Sunday, additional service 2pm to 6pm on Wednesdays
Website: www.switchboard.org.au
People with cognitive impairment and people with physical and sensory disabilities
Office of the Public Advocate
The Office of Public Advocate (OPA) supports people who cannot represent themselves. If a person is not capable of reporting a crime to police or making a statement to the police the OPA can help. Independent Third Person Program consists of a team of volunteers who assist people with a cognitive disability or mental illness during interviews or when making a formal statement to Victoria Police.
Tel: 1300 309 337 or 03 9603 9500
Website: www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au
Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Centre
Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service is a free, Victoria-wide community legal centre that works exclusively with disability related legal issues. The service has a particular focus on issues which affect people with an intellectual disability.
Villamanta provides:
- a free phone line for advice, information and referral
- casework on disability related legal issues, primarily for people with an intellectual disability
- community education on the rights of people who have a disability
- lobbying government and other bodies about laws and policies that affect people who have a disability
- books on disability related issues (see website for catalogue)
- free information sheets on a range of disability rights topics (see the website)
- training for service providers on a range of disability rights issues
Tel: 03 5229 2925
Monday to Friday 9am -12:30pm, 1pm-5pm (closed Wednesday mornings)
Website: www.villamanta.org.au
Villamanta Advice Line
This free service provides advice, information and referral about disability related legal issues. It is for people who have a disability, advocates, carers and non-government or not-for-profit service providers.
Advice Line: 1800 014 111
Monday to Friday, 1pm to 3pm
Mental Health Legal Centre
The Mental Health Legal Centre provides a free and confidential legal service to anyone who has experienced mental illness in Victoria where their legal problem relates to their mental illness. All centre activities aim to promote the rights of people who experience mental illness. The Centre is a non-profit organisation run by an independent Committee of Management. If you need to talk to a lawyer, ring the advice line.
Monday Wednesday and Friday: 3pm to 5pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Tel: 03 9629 4422
Country Callers: 1800 555 887
Website: www.communitylaw.org.au/clc_mentalhealth/cb_pages/the_legal_centre.php
Youth support agencies
Youthlaw
Free and confidential legal advice for young people up to 25 years.
Tel: 03 9611 2412
Website: www.youthlaw.asn.au
Frontyard Youth Services
Frontyard Youth Services can help with the physical, emotional and social needs of young people aged 12 to 25 years who spend time in the Melbourne CBD and who are homeless or marginalised. Some of the services also work with young people across the whole of Victoria. The Frontyard Services seek to provide young people with choices that contribute to their health and future wellbeing.
Tel: 03 9611 2411 or 1800 800 531
Website: www.frontyard.org/index.htm
Housing and Homelessness
Statewide Housing Assistance
Call Statewide Housing Assistance to speak with a housing and support worker if you are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or escaping family violence. This number will direct your call to a service closest to you, or if the call is outside business hours, it will be directed to Salvation Army Crisis Services.
Tel: 1800 825 955 (24 hour statewide toll free, except from mobiles)
Website: www.housing.vic.gov.au/homelessness-and-family-violence/getting-help
Specific crimes
Homicide
Coronial Services Centre Counselling
Information for family members about a coroner's investigation
Tel: 1300 309 519
Website: www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au
Family violence
Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service of Victoria (24 hour Crisis Line)
Tel: 1800 015 188 or (03) 9322 3555
Domestic Violence Resource Centre (DVRC)
Tel: 03 9486 9866
Website: www.dvirc.org.au
Men's Referral Service
Telephone counselling and referral for men who use violence towards family members
Tel: 03 9428 2899
Country Callers: 1800 065 973
Immigrant Women's Domestic Violence Service (IWDVS)
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Tel: 1800 755 988, TTY (hearing impaired): 13 36 77
Website: www.iwdvs.org.au
Women's Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE)
Telephone information, support and referral for women
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Tel: 1300 134 130
Website: www.wire.org.au
Elizabeth Hoffman House (24 hour service)
Provides crisis accommodation and support for Aboriginal women and spouses of Aboriginal men.Call the Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service of Victoria on 1800 015 188 and ask to speak to someone from Elizabeth Hoffman House
Sexual assault
Centres Against Sexual Assault (Sexual Assault 24 hr Crisis Line)
The Sexual Assault Crisis Line Victoria (SACL) is a state-wide, after-hours, confidential, telephone crisis counselling service for victim/survivors of both past and recent sexual assault.
Tel: 1800 806 292
Website: www.casa.org.au
Road trauma
Traffic Accident Commission (TAC)
Tel: 1300 654 329, Country Callers: 1800 332 556
Website: www.tacsafety.com.au
Road Trauma Support Services Victoria
Tel: 1300 367 797 or 03 9877 7922
Website: www.rtstv.org.au
Legal assistance
Federation of Community Legal Centres
Tel: 03 9652 1500
Website: www.communitylaw.org.au
Victoria Legal Aid
The Victoria Legal Aid Legal (VLA) Information Service provides free general legal information over the phone.
It is open Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5.15pm.
Call VLA on 03 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers).
You can ask for an interpreter on 131 450 and ask to be put through to Victoria Legal Aid.
If you have a speech or hearing impairment you can call the National Relay Service and ask to be connected to Victoria Legal Aid.
- TTY/voice: 133 677 or 1800 555 677 (country callers)
- SSR/speak and listen: 1300 555 727 or 1800 555 727 (country callers)
VLA also provides free publications and legal information online, including several in community languages. Our publications and website cover a wide range of legal topics including family violence, sexual assault, police and courts.
Website: www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Women's Legal Service Victoria
Tel: 03 9642 0877
Country Callers: 1800 133 302
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
Tel: 1800 064 865 or 03 9419 3888
Website: www.vals.org.au
Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service
Offers legal services, information, referral and counselling to Indigenous victims of family violence and sexual assault.
Tel: 03 9244 3333 or Freecall 1800 105 303
Website: www.fvpls.org
Complaints
If you have a complaint relating to your rights under the Victim's Charter, You can call the Victims' Charter Enquiries and Complaints Line on 1800 118 728. An Enquiries and Complaints Officer will try to resolve your complaint by mediating between you and the relevant agency or individual who is the focus of your complaint. In many cases, the matter can be sorted out very quickly and effectively.
Call the Enquiries and Complaints Line on 1800 118 728