Support Services for Victim-Survivors

Immediate access to support services for victim-survivors is essential.
The supports will help victim-survivors address their short-term and long-term needs.
This can include, supports for finding suitable temporary accommodation, social support work and casework, counselling and therapy, physical health and well-being, legal advice, help and representation, access to financial means and in some cases, advice on a current partner visa application for visa applicants waiting for their permanent visa grant.

Fleeing a domestic violence situation is very daunting. Finding and accessing supports in several social support areas, all at once, can be a difficult task for a victim-survivor, while ensuring they stay safe and well.

A victim-survivor may not be equipped to navigating around the legal and justice system, health and social support services. This could be due to barriers, such as language proficiency, access to transport, access to family support and employing, education and caring for young dependents.

It is important to recognise the early signs of a person who is experiencing domestic violence and make the necessary referrals to caseworker, social workers, and domestic violence specialists.The safety and well-being of victim-survivors is paramount. In emergency cases, the police should be involved.

Contact list for Support Services

As part of the Domestic Violence Project, a poster which includes a list of more than 80 support services available in NSW, has been produced and published by the NSW Ecumenical Council.

The poster includes key areas for support; General, which includes a list of services that provide over-all or holistic support services. Counselling, Legal, Housing, Financial and Immigration. It also includes specialist services for the Elderly and Children & Youth.

The poster is available in 16 languages other than English and can be displayed at your office, hall or any public or private site accessible by the community. (Languages the poster is translated into: Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, Chinese (Simplified), Farsi, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.)

If you would like to receive a printed copy of the Support Services, please email the projectofficer@nswec.org.au with the subject line ‘order for Support Services poster’.

You can specify in your request, the languages you would like a copy in.

Contact details for Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Programs funded by the NSW Department of Communities and justice can be found here: https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/support-programs/all-families/integrated-services