I hope in sharing my own story I can inspire you, or anyone who is living with family violence, to reach out for help from the qualified professionals who are best placed to help and advise you in your journey. To this end, my publishers, HarperCollins, have put together this list of resources, with the contact details for many of the groups and charities that work tirelessly around Australia and New Zealand to support women and children affected by the trauma of family violence and alcoholism. We urge you to reach out to them too.
We can all do our bit to change our lives and the lives of others affected by family violence. I’d like to draw your attention to the great work of my friend Rosie Batty and the Luke Batty Foundation. I encourage everyone to support Rosie’s campaign to end family violence by signing up at www.neveralone.com.au
Jimmy Barnes
AUSTRALIA
Family Violence State-wide Crisis and Support Phone lines
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT
02 6280 0900
www.dvcs.org.au
NEW SOUTH WALES
Domestic Violence Line
1800 65 64 63
www.domesticviolence.nsw.gov.au
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Dawn House
08 8945 1388
www.dawnhouse.org.au
QUEENSLAND
DV Connect Women’s line
1800 811 811
www.dvconnect.org/womensline
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Gateway Service
1800 800 098
www.gatewayservices.org.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline
08 9223 1188 or 1800 007 339
TASMANIA
Family Violence Response and Referral line
1800 633 937
www.safeathome.tas.gov.au/services
VICTORIA
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre
1800 015 188
www.safesteps.org.au
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AND OTHER RESOURCES
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
www.1800respect.org.au
The National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service is a free and confidential telephone and online service for any Australian who is experiencing or has experienced domestic or family violence and/or sexual assault. Translating and Interpreting Service: call 13 14 50 and ask them to contact 1800RESPECT.
National Relay Service. For callers who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment: visit www.relayservice.gov.au and ask them to contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). TTY/voice calls: phone 133 677 and ask them to contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Speak and Listen users: phone 1300 555 727 and ask them to contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Women’s Legal Services Australia
www.wlsa.org.au
This is a national network of community legal centres that specialise in women’s legal issues. They provide advice, information, casework and education to women on family law and family violence matters as well as provide advice on more general legal issues.
The Men’s Referral Service
1300 766 491
mrs.org.au
The Men’s Referral Service provides anonymous and confidential telephone counselling, information and referrals to men to help them to stop using violent and controlling behaviour.
APPS
Daisy
Daisy connects women who are experiencing or have experienced sexual assault, domestic and family violence to services in their state and local area.
iMatter
An app to help young women understand the warning signs of abusive and controlling behaviour in relationships as well as promote healthy self-esteem.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
VICTORIA
Direct line
1800 888 236
www.directline.org.au
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Confidential alcohol and drug counselling and referral line.
1800 ice advice
1800 423 238
24 hours, 7 days a week
Advice and support for people who use ice, their families and health professionals.
Pharmacotherapy, Advocacy, Mediation, and Support (PAMS)
1800 443 844
www.hrvic.org.au
10am–6pm, Monday to Friday
Advice for anyone experiencing trouble with their pharmacotherapy program (Methadone, Suboxone etc.)
Youth Drug and Alcohol Advise (YoDAA) line
1800 458 685
www.yodaa.org.au
9am–8pm, Monday to Friday
Telephone information and advice for young people and others concerned about them.
NSW
Alcohol and Drug information Service (ADIS)
Sydney: 02 9361 8000
Regional NSW: 1800 422 599
A 24-hour confidential information, advice and referral telephone service.
Ted Noffs Foundation Help line
NSW/ACT: 1800 151 045
QLD: 1800 753 300
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Counselling and support for young people and their families.
QLD
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
1800 177 833
24-hour Alcohol and Drug Information Service
Telephone information, counselling and referral.
WA
Parent Drug Information Service (PDIS)
Perth: 08 9442 5050
Regional: 1800 653 203
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
Perth: 08 9442 5000
Regional WA: 1800 198 024
A 24-hour, confidential telephone service that provides information, counselling, referral and advice.
SA
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
1300 131 340
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Telephone information, counselling, and referral service.
ACT
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
02 6207 9977
24-hour telephone service offering information, advice, referral, intake, assessment and support.
TAS
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
1800 811 994
A 24-hour telephone information and counselling line.
NT
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
1800 131 350
24-hour Alcohol and Drug telephone information and counselling service.
AUSTRALIA NATIONAL
Australian Alcohol and Drug Foundation
1300 85 85 84
Counselling Online
1800 888 236
www.counsellingonline.org.au
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Free alcohol and drug counselling online.
Cannabis Information and Help line
1800 30 40 50
11am–7pm, Monday to Friday (including public holidays)
Family Drug Help
1300 660 068
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Support for family members and friends who are concerned about a loved one’s alcohol and other drug use.
Family Drug Support
1300 368 186
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Support for families faced with problematic drug use.
QUIT line
13 78 48
8am–8pm, Monday to Friday
Say When
1800 422 599
www.whentosaywhen.com.au
Online support for monitoring alcohol intake.
Mental Health
AUSTRALIA NATIONAL
Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Support for depression, anxiety and related disorders.
Kids help line
1800 55 1800
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Free and confidential telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25.
Life line
13 11 14
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Confidential telephone counselling.
SANE Australia Help line
1800 187 263
9am–5pm, Monday to Friday
Information and referral about mental health issues.
NEW ZEALAND
Family Violence
NZ NATIONAL
Women’s Refuge National Crisisline
0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843)
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; call toll free from anywhere in NZ. (If you’re in Auckland you can also call 09 378 1893.)
Provides information, advice and support about domestic violence as well as help in a crisis.
Shine
0508 744 633
9am–11pm, 7 days a week.
www.2shine.org.nz
Domestic Abuse Helpline for anyone living with abuse. The website includes information on how to stop someone knowing you have been seeking information online about domestic violence.
Family Violence Information Line
0800 456 450
9am–11pm, 7 days a week, with an after-hours message redirecting callers in an emergency.
www.areyouok.org.nz
Provides self-help information and connection to appropriate services.
Other Recommended Websites
www.familyservices.govt.nz
The Family and Community Services site has a directory of social services in each community.
www.justice.govt.nz
The Ministry of Justice site has information about protection orders.
www.nnsvs.org.nz
The National Network of Stopping Violence site has a directory of local services.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
NZ NATIONAL
Alcohol Drug Helpline
0800 787 797
alcoholdrughelp.org.nz
Confidential, non-judgmental advice and support
If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s drinking or other drug use, the Helpline can support you to make the changes that you want to make.
Mental Health
NZ NATIONAL
Mental Health Foundation of NZ
mentalhealth.org.nz
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Healthline – 0800 611 116
Samaritans – 0800 726 666