We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia as the traditional owners of the lands we live and work on.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present who continue to hold and carry deep connections to Country, culture, community and story. Sovereignty has never ceded.

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Safety planning

Safety planning

Whether you choose to stay in your relationship or leave, we understand you are the expert in your safety.

Making the decision to leave

If you have made the decision to leave, it may be useful to consider the following:

  • Call our 24/7 phone line on 02 62 800 900 to develop a comprehensive, personalised safety plan.
  • Identify a safe place to go whether at a friend's or family’s home, where the location may be unknown to the person using violence.
  • Decide how you will leave - by foot, car or other form of transport.
  • Collect all your important documents, such as ID, birth and marriage certificates, immigration papers, passports, insurance papers etc. Keep these in a safe place, such as with a trusted person or another safe location.
  • Keep an extra set of keys to the house and car, if possible keep extra money with someone you trust.
  • Keep an extra phone with prepaid credit and numbers saved. DVCS can provide you with a Safe phone through our Wesnet partnership program.
  • Open a bank account in your own name at a different bank than the person using violence. Make sure statements are sent to an alternate address or electronically.
  • Consider packing an overnight bag and leave it in your car or give it to a friend.
  • Discuss your plan with someone you trust and create a safe word. This safe word could be used if you find yourself in an unsafe situation with the person using violence.
  • Consider varying your route to work, family or school and change the times of your regular activities.
  • Change all your passwords and login details to all devices and try to have different passwords for different accounts.
  • Create emergency numbers in your phone, using code names if necessary.
  • Set up a secure email address to give to police, lawyers, community services - but maintain the email address the person using violence is aware of.
  • Necessary communication with the person using violence, in relation to shared children or pets. This may be worth considering in consultation with a legal professional.

Learn more about technology safety.

Staying safe in the home

Some ideas to promote safety if staying in your home after leaving a relationship:

  • Consider changing locks on doors and gates, window bars, electronic alarms and a chain on your front door.
  • Installing locks to any man holes so they can’t be accessed from the roof.
  • Ensure you have working fire alarms and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and purchase fire extinguishers for your home.
  • Install a motion sensitive lighting system outside that lights up when a person is coming close to your home.
  • Put wood dowel in windows to stop them being slid open.
  • Get an answering machine to screen your calls and report abusive calls to the telephone company and the police.
  • Buy a new mobile phone.
  • Speak to neighbours or someone you trust who can call the police if they believe there is a risk to your safety if the person using violence does attend the home.
  • Teach your children how to use the telephone to call police or a trusted person if in unsafe.
  • Inform all the people who provide care for the children, who has permission to pick them up and who does not. If an FVO is obtained, a copy of this order should be given to childcare providers/schools.

Talk to someone

Whatever you decide we can help you in exploring safety options, creating a safety plan and implementing measures to reduce risk. Call our 24/7 crisis phone line on 02 62 800 900 to speak to someone about your safety.

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We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia as the traditional owners of the lands we live and work on. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging who continue to hold and carry deep connections to country, culture, community and story. Sovereignty was never ceded.

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