With Respect has several resources and fact sheets regarding Family and Intimate Partner Violence within the LGBTIQ+ communities, and their family or friends, who are affected by family violence. https://www.withrespect.org.au
Food and material aid during coronavirus
Victorians self-isolating due to coronavirus (COVID-19) with no access to food and essential supplies will receive emergency relief packages under a program introduced by the Victorian Government. For more information phone the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit https://dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Ask Izzy has a list of emergency type aid such as food supplies searchable by postcode. Organisations here will each have their own responses to COVID-19 that are being updated https://askizzy.org.au/food
Interpreter services for non-English speakers
This service is available to any individual or organisation in Australia, enabling non-English speakers to independently access services and information over the phone. TIS National's immediate phone interpreting service (24 hrs, 7 days a week) 131 450
If you are unsafe contact police on 000. Police are responding to urgent matters regardless of physical distancing and isolation.
Safe Steps 24/7
Family Violence Crisis Response Service available to women and children.
Phone 1800 015 188 | 24 hrs, 7 days a week (free call)
If you cannot phone safely phone this number email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website https://www.safesteps.org.au
WithRespect
WithRespect is a family violence and intimate partner violence service supporting LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.
WithRespect offers a service model which can respond to both the person impacted by violence and the person using violence. WithRespect is not a crisis response service.
Phone 1800 542 847 | Monday – Friday 9am -5pm
Website https://withrespect.org.au
After Hours Support, Referral, and Telecounselling is available on Wednesday, between 5pm and 11pm, and on Saturday and Sunday, between 3pm and 10pm.
Services working with LGBTIQ+ communities
Services working with LGBTIQ+ communities, can refer people for Intake and Referral for support via 1800 542 847, or fax 03 9639 3363
Queerspace
Queerspace provides counselling, case management, flexible support packages, referrals and recovery programs for LGBTIQ+ victim/survivors of family violence and
Queerspace face-to-face client contact and outreach services are currently provided via digital platforms including phone and video. This will expand to online groups, seminars, community education and resources.
Phone 03 9663 6733 | Monday to Friday, 9am –5pm
Website https://www.queerspace.org.au
Thorne Harbour Health
Thorne Harbour Health provide counselling, casework, brokerage and behaviour change support for LGBTI community members either experiencing family violence or using violence in their relationships. Currently these services are provided remotely via telephone and video conferencing.
Phone 9865 6700 | Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Website https://thorneharbour.org
Men’s Referral Service
Men’s Referral Service a men’s family violence telephone counselling, referral and information service for:
Phone 1300 766 491 | Monday to Friday 8am - 9pm, and weekends 9am - 5pm.
Live chat is available through the website https://ntv.org.au | Monday to Friday 8am - 9pm and weekends and public holidays 10am - 3pm
QLife
QLife (Switchboard) Is a phone counselling and online chat service for LGBTI community members.
Phone 1800 184 527
Chat via the website at https://qlife.org.au | 6pm and midnight everyday
1800RESPECT
1800RESPECT is a confidential information, counselling and support service
Phone 1800 737 732 | 24 hrs, 7 days a week
Website https://1800respect.org.au
InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
Case management support to clients via phone, and teleconferencing and phone support for clients at four courts across Melbourne. Legal and migration support to existing and new clients via phone and teleconferencing. Please note inTouch is not a crisis service.
Phone 1800 755 988 (toll free number)
Website contact form: https://intouch.org.au/contact-us (responses within 1 to 2 business days).
Victims Support Agency
Victims of Crime helpline
Phone 1800 819 817
Website https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/contact-us/victims-support-agency
WIRE – Women’s Information and Referral Exchange
WIRE – Women’s Information and Referral Exchange offers telephone support and referral options for women and female-identifying, and non-binary people. This is not a crisis service. There is an online chat facility available.
Phone 1300 134 130
https://www.wire.org.au/about/what-we-do
Lifeline
24-hour phone counselling service
Phone 13 11 14
Housing Support Services
DHHS has a list of housing and crisis support services
Phone 1800 825 955 (free call) or (03) 9536 7777 | State-wide After-Hours Service
https://www.housing.vic.gov.au/crisis-emergency-accommodation
As we prepare ourselves for physical distancing and self-isolation, we need to remember home is not always the safest place.
For some in our community – job losses and insecure housing can mean that we are forced back to other homes with family or friends which can be highly conflictual and for others unsafe.
Research shows the rates and severity of Family Violence increase significantly following natural disasters and periods of isolation. This is not because all people suddenly become violent, but because people who have used violence previously are in circumstances which enable greater access to their partners and family and can have more opportunities to use violence. There are also often reduced resources, community support services and police availability during times of crisis.
What this means is we need to prepare and do what we can to support ourselves, our families and our communities. The most important thing is to be aware of what resources and supports are available to those experiencing family violence and how to access them.
Within our LGBTIQ+ communities, some of us are intersex. Intersex is not a reflection of a person’s sexuality. You might be intersex and queer, intersex and trans, intersex and multigender attracted, just as a person may be cisgender (identify with the sex assigned to them at birth) or not.
Feelings of loneliness may have nothing to do with your sexuality or gender identity but instead be related to family issues, ableism, racism or financial stress, for example. You may feel like no one understands you, that it’s hard to build friendships or form relationships.
The family violence sector is undergoing considerable change as result of the Victorian Royal Commission.
The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence report (2016) acknowledges capacity of the family violence service system to respond appropriately to LGBTIQ people has been limited to date.
The Commission made four recommendations covering a range of initiatives (recommendations 166-169). Broadly, these seek to:
There has been significant investment in Royal Commission recommendations since 2016, as of June the following are being implemented:
Over time, these combined initiatives will build a greater understanding of the nature, risk and protective factors and prevalence of violence experienced by LGBTIQ people, both within the service sector and broader community. This together with investment in sector capacity, and the design of new referral pathways will improve inclusive and more efficient system responses to LGBTIQ people who experience (and perpetrate) family and intimate partner violence.
WithRespect is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of any information provided by you.
We will:
In terms of the relevant privacy legislation, we ensure that your personal information will not be disclosed to others except if required by law or other regulation.
WithRespect acknowledges the traditional owners of the land — the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations — and pays respect to their Elders both past and present.
WithRespect acknowledges and apologises to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia for the injustices and trauma suffered as a result of European settlement, the Stolen Generation and other policies, such as the forced removal of children from their families, communities, culture and land.
WithRespect recognises the significant impacts of this history and the fundamental importance of cultural traditions, beliefs and connection to country and land for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people, families and their communities. We recognise Aboriginal culture, community connection, and self-determination are critical protective factors for wellbeing. We therefore are committed to focus on achieving health (including life expectancy) and education equality and responding appropriately to the welfare needs of Aboriginal children and families. This requires our efforts to urgently address disadvantage, including targeting the social determinants of poor health and wellbeing outcomes, and intergenerational experiences of trauma and to do this in a collective and respectful ways.
You can contact w|respect directly by phoning 1800 LGBTIQ (that’s 1800 542 847) or complete the form below.
After hours counselling is available on Wednesday, between 5pm and 11pm, and on Saturday and Sunday, between 10am and 10pm.
If you are a service provider wishing to request a secondary consult, you can complete our Secondary Consult form.
The experiences of multicultural and multifaith (MCMF) LGBTIQ people vary greatly across the wide range and diversity of migrant, refugee and ethno-religious communities in Victoria. It also varies according to other intersectional factors such as length of time in Australia, levels of education, urban or rural locations, and socio-economic status.