Family violence

Everyone has the right to be free of violence or the fear of violence. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in their family and relationships.

Family violence occurs in all communities, cultures and socio-economic groups and is not acceptable in any part of any culture. Family violence is against the law.

It is okay to seek support on behalf of somebody else. Please reach out and speak up.

Victoria Police is here to support you. There is no excuse for abusing a loved one.

Discreet help

We know victims of family violence may be in a situation that makes it harder to reach out for support.

There are ways to seek help discreetly.

Safe Steps offer confidential 24/7 online support and can provide advice about safety planning and emergency accommodation to keep victims safe from family violence.

For a consultation with a family violence crisis specialist email safesteps@safesteps.org.au, or call 1800 015 188 if it is safe to do so.

Victims can also apply for a Family Violence Intervention Order online through the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria(opens in a new window).

Reporting family violence to police

If you are:

someone experiencing violence,
concerned friends or family or
neighbours or services

You can report family violence by:

calling Triple Zero (000) in an emergency
contacting your local police station

If English is not your first language, call Triple Zero (000) and tell them your language. They will connect an interpreter.

If you have a hearing impairment or have difficulty being understood verbally, the National Relay Service (NRS) website explains how the NRS can assist with an emergency call.

Reporting family violence or sexual offences perpetrated by a Victoria Police employee

If anyone is in danger, a crime is currently occurring, or you need immediate attendance, please call Triple Zero (000).

If you are a victim survivor of family violence perpetrated by a Victoria Police employee, and there is no immediate danger:

explore information on the process and options for reporting in the Options Guide for Victim Survivors of Victoria Police Perpetrated Family Violence or Sexual Offences
make a report via our Reporting family violence or sexual offences perpetrated by a Victoria Police employee page

Police assistance at a family violence incident

Police will make an assessment of risk, considering past family violence and any recorded criminal history. They will identify who is:

being harmed most (the victim or ‘affected family member’)
who is the main person harming others (the primary aggressor or 'other party').

Police risk assessment includes:

asking if everyone is safe
speaking to each person on their own and they may speak to children
asking what has been happening now and in the past
checking if, due to the violence, anyone needs medical attention and
taking note of any damage
making referrals for each individual

Police are required to ask if anyone, including children, identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can indicate if they prefer mainstream or Aboriginal services.

Police may also ask if anyone has:

a disability
medical needs
happy to disclose and are relevant to safety or the police response.

Please tell police your communication needs.

If you have difficulty speaking or understanding English, police can seek an interpreter.

How you can help a victim

Family violence mostly happens in the home, behind closed doors for a reason.
Perpetrators are skilled at showing respectability or normalising conflict, and victims are kept silent by shame and fear.
But sometimes our closest family and friends will get to see and hear a small fraction of what is really going on, of what is really happening behind that veneer of the normal ups and downs of a relationship.
I am often asked what should we do if we know family violence is happening to someone we care about. I can only say this:
If something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it, don’t look the other way, don’t make excuses, don’t be a bystander:
- listen to and believe what your loved one has to say
- don’t judge
- maintain regular contact
- offer practical assistance like minding the children
- respect their right to make their own decisions when they are ready
- tell them about the services available, and
- if you observe any form of family violence occurring, call Tripe Zero (000) immediately.
We know that saying or doing nothing can make people feel helpless to a situation that is distressing. And we also know that in some cases, an intervention by an outsider just may be the difference between a terrible situation and a tragedy.

What the law says

The law defines family violence as behaviour by a family member that creates fear and control over:

their partner
ex-partner
other family members.

Victorian Family Violence Protection Act 2008(opens in a new window)

Behaviours can include:
- physical assault (eg. hitting, pushing, burning or choking, rough or neglectful care giving)
- sexual violence (eg. being forced to perform sexual acts)
- economic abuse (eg. withholding money, preventing a person from gaining employment, property damage, or dowry related abuse)
- psychological and/or verbal abuse (such as threats, repeated put downs, name calling, sexist, racist, ageist, ablest or homophobic abuse)
- causing a child to hear, see or be aware of violent acts (for example by hearing fights, seeing injuries or damage)
Children are negatively affected by family violence and can be legally protected.
Families can include:
- intimate partners (eg. husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, de factos, same sex partners)
- ex-partners
- children, siblings, adult children
- step family (eg. mother's new partner or father's new partner or their children)
- a relative or extended family such as a grandparent, father-in-law or mother-in-law, aunt, uncle, blended or cultural family member
- a carer who is like a family member
If you consider someone to be part of your family and their actions are making you, or other family members, fearful – ask for advice and help.

Code of Practice

The Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence directs how Victoria Police responds to family violence.

Code of Practice for the investigation of family violence - Edition 4 Version 2

PDF 1.63 MB

Depending on the circumstances, there are a range of actions police can take.If a crime has been committed police will investigate and may pursue charges.Investigation and prosecution can take time so immediate safety for people who have been harmed or who are at risk must be the priority.

Immediate civil (i.e. non-criminal) actions to manage risk and increase safety that police can take are to:

issue a Family Violence Safety Notice on the spot and/or
apply to the court for a Family Violence Intervention Order, or
apply to change an existing Intervention Order to increase protection

A contravention of a Family Violence Safety Notice or Family Violence Intervention Order should be reported to police as soon as possible and can result in criminal charges.

Quick exit button

The Quick exit button at the top of this page will exit you from the Victoria Police website quickly. It does not remove your browser history.

If you think your computer use is being monitored – you may want to remove the browser history. The eSafety Commissioner's eSafety website can assist with how to do this, and provide more information on technology and safety.

Office of the eSafety Commissioner(opens in a new window)

Resources

The Magistrates Court has a series of films about family violence.

For people who are deaf or communicate using Auslan, 1800 RESPECT (a national telephone support line for sexual assault and family violence) has a film with information on family violence and how to get support.

Contact

Magistrates Court(opens in a new window)
Victims of Crime Helpline(opens in a new window) (7 days, 8am-11pm): 1800 819 817
Victoria Legal Aid(opens in a new window) (Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm) free telephone advice in a range of languages: 1300 792 387
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre(opens in a new window) (24 hours) for women and children: 1800 015 188 or 9322 3555
Men's Referral Service(opens in a new window) (Monday - Friday, 8am-9pm) support and referral for men: 1300 766 491
Sexual Assault Crisis Line(opens in a new window) (24 hours): 1800 806 292
Child Protection Service - Department of Families, Fairness and Housing(opens in a new window) (24 hours): 131 278
Housing(opens in a new window) (24 hours) statewide referral for emergency housing: 1800 825 955

Family violence Crime prevention

Updated 20 February 2025