FAQ
Frequently asked questions
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24/7 ACT crisis line
If this is an emergency call 000
Frequently asked questions
We do not make any sound recordings of our conversations. You do not need to give us your name, but if you do we make notes that we spoke to you so you don’t have to repeat your story. DVCS understands how important privacy and confidentiality are when providing quality, trauma responsive and safe services. For information on how we handle your data, please check our Confidentiality and Privacy policies.
DVCS do not share information unless we are given consent by the client, are legally required to do so, or it is in relation to duty of care. DVCS act under a principle of duty of care, which means there is an obligation to act when the organisation has concerns which could be reasonably foreseen to contribute to injury or harm to yourself or other people. The duty of care principle overrides our obligations in regards to confidentiality. If you are unsure, please let us know at the start of the call and we can chat with you about this.
DVCS’s crisis telephone line operates 24 hours a day 365 days of the week. You can call us at anytime. If you aren’t able to get through initially, this may be because we’re already on the phone line. Please ensure you leave a message, if safe to do so and we will call you back as soon as possible.
The choice to stay in the relationship is yours to make. We respect that you are the expert of your life and understand that everyone’s situation is different, and there is no “one size fits all” approach. We understand that violent relationships are very complex. We do not pressure people to leave.
If you decide to stay we can assist you with support and safety planning and, if it is what you want, to apply for a Family Violence Order (FVO). You can apply for a FVO and still remain with your partner. The FVO can place restrictions on your partner to stop their use of violence, without making you leave the relationship or move out.
If you’d like to talk to us about your situation, please call our 24/7 crisis telephone line 02 62 800 900.
DVCS works closely with accommodation providers who have capacity to provide emergency accommodation for you and your dog or cat. We support people throughout our work to consider safe alternatives for their animals when they are considering leaving home due to the violence they are experiencing.
A person who is experiencing domestic and family violence can apply to the ACT Magistrates Court for a Family Violence Order (FVO) to protect themselves and their family. FVOs place restrictions on people using violence to stop them committing further acts of violence.
Applying for a FVO can be daunting and confusing. DVCS provides a free, FVO support program, called the Court Advocacy Program, to help people through every step of the FVO process.
To access our legal support and advocacy call our 24/7 crisis telephone line 02 62 800 900.
Call our 24/7 crisis phone line on 02 62 800 900 and a staff member will help you.
