Get help for your needs
The Leaving Violence Program can support you to leave an intimate partner who is violent through support packages that offer financial and other supports. The Program is available to support those who are eligible regardless of gender or visa status.
The Program offers 2 models for how someone can apply for and be supported by the Program. This is through the National Program that you can apply for using this website or, if you live in the Broome, Cairns, Darwin or Dubbo regions, through 4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led service providers.
If you live in the above regions, you can find out more by clicking on the “I live in the Broome, Cairns, Darwin or Dubbo regions and need help” tab above.
The program is open to people of any gender or sexuality
To be eligible for support through the Leaving Violence Program,
you must meet all of the below eligibility criteria:
you must meet all of the below eligibility criteria:
- be a victim-survivor experiencing Intimate Partner Violence;
- have left or have a plan to leave a violent Intimate Partner Relationship;
- have changed, or have been planning to change, how or where you live in the past 12 weeks because of the violence. This can, for example, be that you:
- have left your shared home, or
- partner has left or been made to leave your shared home and you have stayed in the home, or
- have a plan or want help to make a plan, to leave a partner who uses violence and change your living arrangement
- be 18 years or older;
- reside in Australia and have a current address;
(at the time of application as an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary visa holder); - be experiencing financial stress
- have not been supported through the Leaving Violence Program, Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) trial, or the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot in the last 12 months.
Eligible victim survivors can access up to 12 weeks of support that includes:
- financial support of up to $5,000 (with up to $1,500 via bank transfer and up to $3,500 in goods and services)
- referral services to other supports that can help such as counselling, legal assistance, specialist family and domestic violence case management, financial counselling for support with debts, and other community support services.
The Program is not a crisis service, and while it will support you in a timely manner, it cannot support you with a crisis – if you are in danger, you should call 000.
The Program will not be able to do ongoing counselling or case management with you but can refer you somewhere for you to get that help.
The Program cannot find you housing but can make sure you are referred to the services that can support you with this. You can also use the financial support to pay for housing costs if you choose.
Before commencing your application, please note the following:
The Leaving Violence Program can support someone to leave an intimate partner who is violent through individualised support packages that offer financial and other supports. The Program is available to support those who are eligible regardless of gender or visa status.
The Program offers 2 delivery models for how someone can apply for and be supported by the Program. This is through the National Program or, if your client lives in the Broome, Cairns, Darwin or Dubbo regions, through 4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led service providers based in the regions.
For the National Program, this is that you can support your client to apply by using this website.
If you live in the above regions, you can find out more by clicking on the “I live in the Broome, Cairns, Darwin or Dubbo regions and need help” tab above.
The program is open to people of any gender or sexuality
To be eligible for support through the Leaving Violence Program,
you must meet all of the below eligibility criteria:
you must meet all of the below eligibility criteria:
- be a victim-survivor experiencing Intimate Partner Violence;
- have left or have a plan to leave a violent Intimate Partner Relationship;
- have changed, or have been planning to change, how or where you live in the past 12 weeks because of the violence. This can, for example, be that you:
- have left your shared home, or
- partner has left or been made to leave your shared home and you have stayed in the home, or
- have a plan or want help to make a plan, to leave a partner who uses violence and change your living arrangement
- be 18 years or older;
- reside in Australia and have a current address;
(at the time of application as an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary visa holder); - be experiencing financial stress
- have not been supported through the Leaving Violence Program, Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) trial, or the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot in the last 12 months.
Eligible victim survivors can access up to 12 weeks of individualised support that includes:
- financial support of up to $5,000 (with up to $1,500 via bank transfer and up to $3,500 in goods and services)
- risk and needs assessments
- safety planning
- referral services to other supports that can help such as counselling, legal assistance, specialist family and domestic violence case management, financial counselling for support with debts, and other community support services.
The Program is not a crisis service, and while it will support your client in a timely manner, it cannot support them with a crisis – if they are in danger, you or them should call 000.
The Program will not be able to do ongoing counselling or case management with your client but can refer them somewhere to get that help or they can remain in contact with you for this purpose.
The Program cannot find your clients housing but can make sure they are referred to the services that can support with this. Your client can also use the financial support to pay for housing costs if they choose.
To support your client in applying for the Leaving Violence Program please make sure they are in a safe place and have a safe device to complete the application on.
The Leaving Violence Program Regional Trials are being delivered across four regions of Australia in Broome, Cairns, Darwin and Dubbo. The Regional Trials focus on meeting the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim-survivors and provide further choice to victim survivors in these four regions.
Any victim survivor living in the service delivery region can apply for the Program through the regional trial providers or through the national service.
The program is open to people of any gender or sexuality
Broome – Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service
- Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (BRAMS) delivers the Leaving Violence Program Regional Trial in Broome and across the West Kimberly Region of Western Australia (WA).
- For information on how to access the Leaving Violence Program Regional Trial delivered by BRAMS, please visit https://www.brams.org.au/. Office operating Monday to Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm local time, Thursdays 8:00am - 2:00pm local time.
Cairns– Remote Area Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Child Care Advisory Association (RAATSICC)
- Remote Area Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Child Care Advisory Association (RAATSICC) delivers the Leaving Violence Program Regional Trial in parts of the North Queensland region of Australia. This includes Cairns, Townsville Cape York, Cairns Tablelands, Torres Strait Islands, Mt Isa and Palm Island.
- For information on how to access the Leaving Violence Program Regional Trial delivered by RAATSICC please visit https://raatsicc.org.au/or call 1300 663 411; . Office operating hours Monday to Friday 8:30am-5:00pm local time.
Darwin – North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service
- The North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service (NAAFLS) delivers the Leaving Violence Program Regional Trial across their current service footprint in the top end of the Northern Territory (NT). This includes Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, +hulunbuy and 45 remote communities in the West Daly, Tiwi Islands, Big Rivers, East Arnhem and West Arnhem Regions.
- For information on how to access the Leaving Violence Program Regional Trial delivered by NAFFLS please visit https://naafls.com.au/or call (08) 8923 8200 .Office operating Monday to Thursday, 8:30am-4:30pm and 8:30am-4:00pm Fridays local time.
Dubbo – Bunmabunmarra
- Bunmabunmarra delivers the Leaving Violence Program Regional Trial in the Dubbo Region extending over the Far West and Central West regions of New South Wales (NSW). Delivering the service in Wellington, Narromine, Gilgandra, Trangie, Warren, Coonabarabran, Coonamble and Nyngan.
- For information on how to access the Leaving Violence Program Regional Trial delivered by Bunmabunmarra please visit www.bunmabunmarra.com.au or call (02) 5816 9035. or Toll Free 1800 214 156 .Office operating Monday to Thursday 9:00am-5:00pm and 9:00am-4:00pm Fridays local time.
To be eligible for support through the Leaving Violence Program,
you must meet all of the below eligibility criteria:
you must meet all of the below eligibility criteria:
- be a victim-survivor experiencing Intimate Partner Violence;
- have left or have a plan to leave a violent Intimate Partner Relationship
- have changed, or have been planning to change, how or where you live in the past 12 weeks because of the violence. This can, for example, be that you:
- have left your shared home, or
- partner has left or been made to leave your shared home and you have stayed in the home, or
- have a plan or want help to make a plan, to leave a partner who uses violence and change your living arrangement
- be 18 years or older;
- reside in Australia and have a current address;
(at the time of application as an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary visa holder); - be experiencing financial stress
- have not been supported through the Leaving Violence Program, Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) trial, or the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot in the last 12 months.
Eligible victim survivors can access up to 12 weeks of support that includes:
- financial support of up to $5,000 (with up to $1,500 in cash or cash equivalent and up to $3,500 in goods and services)
- referral services to other supports that can help such as counselling, legal assistance, specialist family and domestic violence case management, financial counselling for support with debts, and other community support services.
The Regional Trials have the same eligibility as the National program.
The Program is not a crisis service, and while it will support you in a timely manner, it cannot support you with a crisis – if you are in danger, you should call 000.
The Program will not be able to do ongoing counselling or case management with you, but can refer you somewhere for you to get that help.
The Program cannot find you housing but can make sure you are referred to the services that can support you with this. You can also use the financial support to pay for housing costs if you choose.
For the Regional Trials, you can apply online, over the phone or face to face.
Please visit the service providers website in your region for more information on how to apply:
- Broome − https://www.brams.org.au/
- Cairns − https://raatsicc.org.au/
- Darwin − https://naafls.com.au/
If you would like more information on how to apply for the National program, you can find out more by clicking on the ‘I am looking for help’ tab above. If you want to apply for the National Program, click the “Apply now” button below.
For Crisis Support and Suicide Intervention
Please call Lifeline 13 11 14
Additional help and support options can be found in the Supports page
For Domestic, Family or Sexual Violence
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence:
Call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
Chat: 1800RESPECT.org.au
Text: 0458 737 732
Prefer speaking to a Leaving Violence Program support person?
You can reach us at 1800 253 283. The Leaving Violence Program operates Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, excluding public holidays.
Helpful resources
The Leaving Violence Program has resources available including easy read factsheets, translated materials, discussion guides and other materials for individuals, communities and services.
Factsheets
Find out more about Intimate Partner Violence, eligibility and how the program can support you.
Other languages
You can also find information about the Leaving Violence program in 10 different languages.
Community support
Resources for those in the community and government services who would like to learn how to provide support.
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