Everyone, including kids and teens, have the right to feel safe at home and in their relationships.
If you or someone else is in danger now, phone the police on 000 (triple zero).
If you are not in immediate danger but feel unsafe, get advice and support:
- Non-urgent police assistance, phone 131 444
- 1800RESPECT, phone 1800 737 732 or use 1800RESPECT online chat. This service is gender-inclusive.
- Women’s Safety Services SA, phone 1800 800 098 This service is gender-inclusive.
- Men’s Referral Service through No to Violence, 1300 766 491. This service is gender-inclusive.
- Mensline Australia, phone 1300 78 99 78
- Kids Helpline (available anytime for kids and young people up to 25 years), phone 1800 55 1800.
Sometimes you might feel unsafe in your own home and in your relationships, or your kids might feel unsafe.
Having a parent, partner, or family member criticise or bully you, threaten or hurt you, can be very frightening.
Just like adults, kids and teens should feel like they are heard, valued and most importantly they should feel safe. Sometimes their behaviour might be tricky to manage, but adults need to try to understand the reason for their behaviour. They might be feeling hungry or unwell, they might feel unsafe, or just be too young to manage their emotions.
Using a positive approach to guiding their behaviour instead of smacking, pinching or any physical punishment is much better for their development. This will also keep your relationship with them strong and leads to less challenging behaviour in the long run.
Feeling safe isn’t just about physical safety, it’s also about being able to make choices without fear.
Your partner or family member might try to control parts of your life, like how you spend time or money, how you look or talk, who you see, what you believe, and even what your kids do and who they talk to. This is not ok.
The safety and wellbeing of you and your kids is a priority. It's not your fault the situation is unsafe.
You are not alone and help is available.
It's ok to ASK for help. ASK is a safe place!
Information for you
Domestic abuse includes any attempt by one person in an intimate or family relationship to dominate and control the other.
Physical abuse
Punching, kicking, strangulation, use of items to cause harm, threats of violence.
Emotional and psychological abuse
Name calling, manipulation, isolation, coercive control (taking a person's independence).
Financial abuse
Withholding funds, stealing money, making unfair demands on the money that is shared.
Spiritual abuse
Denying the person to right to follow their spiritual and religious preference.
Technological abuse
Denying access to phones or computers, checking or tracking a person's phone, sending abusive messages or calls, sharing intimate photos without consent.
Sexual violence
Rape and sexual abuse, forcing someone to do acts they do not want to, reproductive coercion (controlling a person's contraception or pregnancy).
Visiting Break the Cycle is an important first step in getting the support and information you need to break the cycle of domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse includes any attempt by one person in an intimate or family relationship to dominate and control the other.
The abusive person will use fear, guilt, shame, intimidation and/or violence to control and dominate the other, causing fear, physical harm and/or psychological harm.
Domestic abuse is a violation of human rights and is never acceptable. But once abusive behaviour is recognised, help is available and it can be stopped.
Women’s Safety Services SA (WSSSA) supports women and their children who are experiencing domestic and family violence. WSSSA are committed to helping people find safety and support during and after experiencing abuse.
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
The Women's Information Service provides information to South Australian women.
They do this:
- online
- over the phone
- in person at their shopfront in the city.
WIS aims to increase access to information that promotes choice and empowerment. They offer an anonymous service.
Free phone 1800 188 158
Phone 8303 0590
Shopfront: 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
The Line website talks about what's ok and what's not when it comes to sex, dating and relationships for young people aged over 14. It helps young people to call out behaviours that hurt and disrespect others, as well as advice on the right behaviours and where to find support.
Information is also available for parents and carers, educators and practitioners.
The Families Growing Together program offers parents and carers a range of face-to-face workshops and online webinars to suit their parenting needs.
For Aboriginal families and communities, a co-design process is used to tailor the workshops.
- My Child and Me – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 2–12 years
- Living with Young People – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 12–18 years
- Growing and learning in the family — a two-part workshop to support parents to connect with their child through play
- Coping Skills – a two-part workshop exploring stress and resilience
Delivered in a relaxed and informal style, these workshops and webinars offer parents helpful information and a choice of simple, practical strategies based on the latest parenting research and using information from Parenting SA.
Workshops and webinars are all live and free and are designed to be interactive with videos, activities and time for parents to discuss information together in small groups or through the chat function.
Parenting SA provides the community with free quality information on raising children.
Parent easy guides:
Services for you
Women’s Safety Services SA (WSSSA) supports women and their children who are experiencing domestic and family violence. WSSSA are committed to helping people find safety and support during and after experiencing abuse.
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
Safety Hubs (Havens) are part of the Women's Information Service (WIS). The Havens provide information and links to empower women to make informed choices. They also help concerned family and friends supporting a woman at risk.
WIS volunteers at the Havens have information on many issues including:
- legal
- financial
- health
- accommodation.
Locations
Also, through KWY and Centacare:
South Australia’s Domestic Violence Disclosure scheme supports a person who may be at risk of domestic violence to access information about their partner or former partner. This can help them to make decisions about their safety and the future of the relationship.
Disclosures of information occur in a place that is safe for you, with SA Police and a specialist domestic and family violence worker.
You can apply online on SA Police website or in person at your local police station.
Homeless Connect SA provides crisis advice and accommodation for anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Homelessness service provider directory
Provided by Uniting Communities and SYC, they can also connect you with:
- domestic and family violence services
- youth services
- mental health support.
Phone 1800 003 308 (24-hour service)
Safe Kennels Domestic Violence (DV) Project, through RSPCA South Australia, provides temporary foster care for pets when their human is escaping a violent relationship and practical information for pet owners to keep their animal safe.
Phone 1300 477 722 for emergency boarding (24-hour service)
Email info@rspcasa.org.au (during business hours)
Safe Pets Safe Families, is a charity in South Australia that helps people and their pets who are experiencing domestic and family violence, and can also offer support.
Phone 0409 818 879
Email admin@safepetssafefamilies.org.au
Regional services
Changing Tracks in Mount Gambier is run for men by Anglican Community Care (AC Care). The 24-week group program helps men manage their anger and change responses to conflict and stress.
Phone 1800 880 913
The Ceduna Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service, by Centacare Catholic Country SA, provides counselling, information on restraining orders, accommodation and support groups.
Domestic and family violence support is available through UnitingCountry SA in Coober Pedy, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Clare, and Kadina.
Phone 1300 067 777
Statewide services
Aboriginal Family Support Service (AFFS) offers The Staying Safe Program, to reduce family violence and improve the safety of women and children, and New Dreams, for women and their children who have already escaped from family violence.
Phone 8254 1077
Relationships Australia South Australia supports individuals and families affected by family and domestic violence, or those struggling with changing their behaviour.
Phone 1300 364 277
The Children’s Contact Services have neutral locations where separated parents can drop off and pick up their children in a non-confrontational way, or hold supervised contact visits.
There are small fees to access these services. Both parents usually pay a fee, unless otherwise agreed or court directed.
Someone to talk to
1800 RESPECT is a national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
Phone 1800 737 732 (24-hour service)
The Domestic Violence Crisis Line offers information, counselling and safe accommodation support for women experiencing domestic violence in South Australia.
You can phone the Domestic Violence Crisis Line for free. They can organise a safe telephone interpreter. Let the person know what language you need.
Phone 1800 800 098 (24-hour service)
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
There are services available specifically for Aboriginal families.
No to Violence works with men who use family violence, and the sector that supports them to change their abusive and violent behaviour.
Phone 1300 766 491
Ninko Kurtannga Patpangga is operated by the Women's Safety Services SA.
Phone 8297 9644
Hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Kornar Winmil Yunti Aboriginal Corporation (KWY) focuses on the safety of women and children.
It aims to improve the safety of women, children and men by providing specialist knowledge and culturally appropriate services to break cycles of domestic violence and reduce Aboriginal children entering child protection systems across Australia.
A referral is required.
The Women's Information Service provides information to South Australian women.
They do this:
- online
- over the phone
- in person at their shopfront in the city.
WIS aims to increase access to information that promotes choice and empowerment. They offer an anonymous service.
Free phone 1800 188 158
Phone 8303 0590
Shopfront: 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm