Domestic violence

Hey! The content on this page might be intense or triggering for some people. 

We recommend making sure you're feeling okay to read this page, and to delete your history if you're concerned about a partner or family member. 

Use the quick exit button at the top right hand corner to leave this page quickly.

This page contains information about legal protections against family violence, how to recognise violence, whether in your own relationships, or the relationships of friends and loved ones, what you can do about it, and how to support a friend or family member who is in a violent or potentially violent situation. 

Acknowledgements:

This page was created with input from trans writers across each state and territory, and developed in collaboration with Equality Australia, Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC), SHINE SA, Transgender Victoria (TGV), A Gender Agenda, TransFolk of WA, Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC), and Working It Out Tasmania (WIC). All content was reviewed by the Inner City Legal Centre. 

Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, occurs in every community and can happen in any relationship regardless of gender. 

Research indicates that trans and gender diverse people are more likely than cisgender heterosexual women to experience domestic violence. This abuse can be largely invisible though, both in national discussion about domestic violence and within our own communities, so it’s important to know that it can and does happen in our relationships.  

Research indicates that trans and gender diverse people are more likely than cisgender heterosexual women to experience domestic violence. This abuse can be largely invisible though, both in national discussion about domestic violence and within our own communities, so it’s important to know that it can and does happen in our relationships.  

If you’re worried that you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, help and support is available. This page of TransHub contains information about how to recognise violence (in your own relationships, or the relationships of friends and loved ones), what you can do about it, and how to support a friend or family member who is in a violent or potentially violent situation. 

To develop this page, we worked with the ACON team who lead work addressing sexual, domestic and family violence in LGBTQ+ communities. Visit Say It Out Loud for additional resources to support better understanding of LGBTQ+ sexual, family and intimate partner violence. 

Recognising violence

VIntimate partner and family violence occur when someone who has a close personal relationship with you makes you feel afraid, powerless or unsafe. It can be physical, but it can also be emotional and / or psychological. Not all abusive relationships involve physical violence, but all physically violent relationships have an element of psychological and emotional abuse. 

Signs of abuse can be subtle and being able to identify your experiences as abuse can be a complex process for many people. If you are beginning to question the negative ways that a person makes you feel, it is worth considering further.  

Some signs of abuse may include: 

  • Feeling afraid / uncomfortable of the person. 
  • Being made to do things that make you uncomfortable. 
  • Feeling that you are ‘walking on eggshells’ with somebody. 
  • Having your life controlled by somebody else.  
  • Being physically threatened and / or harmed.  
  • Being touched in a sexually inappropriate way without your consent.  
  • Having your finances limited / controlled.  

Some other signs of violence / manipulation may include: 

  • The person saying things that make you doubt your own memory or feelings (a tactic called gaslighting). 
  • Threatening to share private images / information about you.  
  • Isolating you from others.  
  • Keeping track of your location / movements.  
  • Holding on to or hiding medications (e.g. Gender affirmation, mental health, HIV treatment / preventatives). 
  • Using violence / threats against children in your care. 
  • Using violence / threats against pets or support animals.  
  • Sabotaging / controlling birth control.  

Some distinct risk factors impact LGBTQ+ communities, especially amongst young people who are still living with their family of origin. These may include: 

  • Having your sexuality / gender identity mocked. 
  • People attempting to alter the way that you choose to identify / express your own gender / sexuality.  
  • Threatening to share your sexuality / gender identity without your consent.  
  • Having your access to gender affirming care denied or controlled.  
  • Threatening to share your HIV status without your consent. 
  • Having your access to HIV preventatives or treatments denied or controlled. 
  • Threatening to limit your access to children. 

More information on family and domestic violence is available at Say It Out Loud including a Healthy Relationships Quiz which could help with identifying whether a relationship is healthy or not.

What to do about it

The best thing to do is to connect with a support service and talk to the trusted people in your life. 

This may be a domestic violence service or phone line, or a health professional that you trust. 

Even though telephone lines can seem intimidating, some of the best specialist workers work on support lines like 1800RESPECT or QLife (call 1800 184 527 or webchat from 3pm-9pm each day). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander folk may want to call 13-YARN. They can help you understand what your options are. 

They won’t call police and they won’t make you leave the relationship – they will help you leave the violence on your terms. 

You can also talk to people in your life that you trust, like a friend or family member, or to a professional like a doctor, therapist, or counsellor. Having someone you can take concerns to and check in with, without it getting back to the violent person in your life can be really valuable. 

For more information about finding professionals who’ll work with and support you, head to our pages about Finding A Doctor and Mental Health support. 

Safety planning

Before taking any actions, it’s a good idea to start thinking about how to plan for the safety of you, the people and pets around you, and how to leave in the safest way possible. Even if you don’t want to leave the relationship, safety planning can help you think about ways to make yourself a little safer in the relationship. Domestic violence services and phone lines can help you safety plan. 

Who do you trust: Consider who you can trust to support you throughout the process, they might be friends or family members, medical professionals, or a therapist or counsellor. These people can also help you plan, find services and support, places to stay and resources to help you keep away from the violent person in your life. 

Plan a potential place to stay: Knowing that you’ll have a place to stay can help make that first step of leaving a lot easier. When asking someone, it’s okay to use a different reason when you first make a plan to stay with them, e.g. that you’ve had some allergies flare up at home, or that you and your partner need a bit of space. Domestic violence services can also help you find a place to stay temporarily, like a refuge or a hotel room.  

Have a few important possessions packed and hidden: Knowing that you’ve got a bag ready to go with your essentials can make finding the right moment to leave easier and less scary. This could include medications (including hormones),prescriptions, a spare binder or gaff, cash, ID, clothes, or more. 

Have an exit route: This might be a literal route, as in how you’re going to get out and leave, or a plan for when you’re  ready to make that decision. 

Know when to do it: This might be a time, or a window that you’re keeping an eye out for e.g. When the violent person in your life isn’t at home, or when a friend is available to pick you up. 

Planning for children: Talk to your children about your safety plan so they know what to do if something happens. 

Planning for pets: Having a safe place for your pets to go like a friend’s house or RSPCA’s Community Domestic Violence program. 

It can take years to recover from domestic violence, even if the abusive relationship happened years ago, you can still seek support to heal and move on. Check out our Mental Health page for links to support services. 

Helping a friend

Domestic violence happens in our community, this means we might know that someone in our life is experiencing domestic violence. While you are not able to make decisions for that person (and shouldn’t), there are ways to offer support. 

ACON’s Say It Out Loud includes a Bystander Toolkit, a downloadable resource for someone who observes violence or abuse occurring but is not the victim or the perpetrator. 

The toolkit is split into three sections: 

Recognise: Is designed to help you recognise signs of abuse and overcome hesitations that you may have to intervene. 

Respond: Has some information about what you can do to appropriately and safely intervene. 

Recover: Is to help you take care of and support yourself after you have intervened. 

The most important thing is to respect the victim’s decision, and that you don’t make decisions for them, or without their knowledge or consent. Supporting someone who is experiencing domestic and family violence means letting them make choices on their terms, even if that can be frustrating or uncomfortable for you, or if they act in ways that you don’t understand. 

For more information go to Say It Out Loud. 

Reporting to the police

For some people, reporting violent behaviour to the police is important. While police are there to support you, it’s okay to have a complex relationship with the police, including being unsure whether or not you want to report violence to them, especially if your partner is also a trans person or a member of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Each Australian state and territory has its own mandatory reporting laws. However, the laws are not the same across all jurisdictions.  

Differences in these laws might have to do with: who has to report; what types of abuse have to be reported; the circumstances in which it must be reported; and, who is being reported to. These differences are clarified by 1800RESPECT’s page on Mandatory Reporting. 

You can report directly to police by:  

  • Calling 000 and asking for police in an emergency (when there is immediate danger) 
  • Calling 131 444 for police assistance (when there is no immediate danger) 
  • Calling or going to your local police station and speaking with police there 

There are several types of specialist officers who can support this action. You can also take a support person with you such as a friend, social worker, or advocate.  

Working with Liaison officers

Specialist officers are trained to support the victims of domestic and family violence (including intimate partner violence) through the process of reporting and referrals to services. 

To contact a specialist officer, call your local police and ask to speak with a Family/Domestic Violence Liaison Officer.  

If at any time you feel that you are not being treated fairly, you can ask to speak with another police officer or a dedicated liaison officer.  

LGBTQI+ Liaison Officers are available in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and VIC.  

Visit our dedicated page on Police for more information. 

Protective Orders

If you are interested in reporting domestic violence to the police, they can help you apply for a protective order. Across Australia, Courts can make orders that prevent a person from having contact with another person. You may have seen them in the media being called ‘restraining orders.’ 

If you are considering applying for a protective order, it can be important to collect and keep evidence of the behaviour in question. This may be text messages and emails to, or from, your partner; text messages and emails to others about the situation; audio recordings of fights or conversations; photos of any injuries or property damage; and, more. 

The National Domestic Violence Order Scheme allows all protective orders to be automatically recognised and enforced nationally. 

Anyone who breaches the conditions of a nationally recognised order will be subject to any penalties set by the relevant state or territory, depending on where the breach occurred. 


Note: If you have a preexisting order that was issued after 25th November 2017, it automatically applies all over Australia. You do not have to apply to register it in another State or Territory of Australia for it to be enforceable.  

If your protective order was issued before 25th November 2017, you can have that order declared as nationally recognised. This means it will apply in all Australian States and Territories. 

Legal options by state and territory

Australian Capital Territory (ACT): You can apply for a Family Violence Order (FVO) to prohibit someone from engaging in family violence towards family members (including intimate partners or former intimate partners). Or you can apply for a Personal Protection Order (PPO) to prohibit someone from engaging in personal violence against an individual.  

The Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) is the primary service providing both emergency and long-term support to people who have experienced or are experiencing domestic and/or family violence.   

DVCS offer 24/7 crisis intervention and can be reached by calling (02) 62 800 900 (available 24/7) or by emailing cr****@******rg.au (monitored during business hours). All services are free of charge and staff have undergone training to best support trans and gender diverse people, you can provide as little or as much information as you feel safe doing so.   

New South Wales (NSW): You are able to apply for an ADVO (Apprehended Domestic Violence Order) at any point if you have been subjected to physical assault, threats of physical harm, stalking, intimidation or harassment and have “a reasonable fear that this behaviour will continue”. 

This applies no matter the gender experience or identity of the people in the relationship – ADVOs are the same for trans people as they are for cis people.  

Sometimes the police will not agree to take out an ADVO to protect you. This could be for numerous reasons, however that does not mean you cannot apply for an ADVO yourself.  

If the protected person applies for an ADVO themselves, this is called a ‘private’ application. You can hire a lawyer to represent you in a private application, or you can represent yourself.    

Help is also available through the Inner City Legal Centre’s Safe Relationships Project. They also offer a state-wide free legal service for trans and gender diverse people. ICLC can assist you to apply for an ADVO and to know about your legal options. 

Northern Territory (NT): You are able to apply for a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) which restricts the behaviour of one person towards another by contacting police. 

There is no dedicated DV service for trans and gender diverse people in NT. If you would like additional legal advice and assistance through this process, contact the Legal Aid NT or Darwin Community Legal Service. 

Note: The NT is the only state in Australia to have mandatory reporting for all adults in relation to domestic and family violence. Find out more about Mandatory Reporting. 

Queensland (QLD): You are able to apply for a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) to stop threats or acts of domestic violence against you and/or your children/family.  

You can make a report directly to the police by visiting a station, calling, or: 

  • registering to use SMS messaging if you are deaf, hearing-impaired, or vulnerable. 

LGBTQI+ Liaison Officers are available. 

South Australia (SA): You are able to submit a form to SA Police’s Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) to request information about an abusive partner or former partner to help make decisions about your safety. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and can be filled out by a friend or family member.  

The kind of information you will get from the DVDS includes previous intervention orders, reports that may have been made against them, or convictions for offences that might be relevant. This won’t count as a report of domestic violence, but it can help you feel more confident about going through with making an official report.   

You are also able to apply for an intervention order. 

If you would like additional legal advice and assistance through this process, contact the Legal Services Commission of South Australia. 

Tasmania (TAS): You may apply to a Court to make a Family Violence Order (FVO) against someone in your family or domestic relationship. A police officer may make a Police Family Violence Order (PFVO) against someone if the officer is satisfied that the person has committed, or is likely to commit, family violence. 

Tasmania is the only Australian jurisdiction limiting the legal definition of family violence to abuse against a spouse or partner. So, police cannot issue orders for other forms of domestic violence such as elder abuse or violence against children. Instead, victim-survivors (or someone on their behalf) need to apply to the court for a Restraint Order. 

PFVOs are usually made for a year, but can be revoked, changed, or replaced with an FVO. FVOs last for as long as the Court considers necessary, or until an order is made to extend, change or revoke the FVO. This applies no matter the gender experience or identity of the people in the relationship. 

If you want to know more, please visit Tasmania Legal Aid or call 1300 366 611 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.  

Victoria (VIC): You can apply for a Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) through the Magistrate’s Court system. Alternatively, you can make a report to your local police to apply on your behalf. (Family Violence Liaison Officers (FVLOs), LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer (LLO’s), or Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers (ACLO) are all available.) 

You can do this at any point if you have been subjected to physical assault, threats of physical harm, emotional or psychological abuse, intimidation or sexual abuse, financial abuse, controlling behaviours, a child could have been exposed to the effects of, or heard, or witnessed any of the above and have a reasonable fear that this behaviour will continue.   

This applies no matter the gender experience or identity of the people in the relationship. Family violence interventions are the same for trans people as they are for cis people.  

Western Australia (WA): You are able to apply in Court for a Family Violence Restraining Order (FVRO) against someone you are or have been in a domestic relationship with threatens your safety or harms you. 

According to Legal Aid WA, “The definition of family member is broad and covers current and former: 

  • spouses, siblings, children, parents, grandparents and step-family relationships, as well as other relatives, and 
  • members of intimate or family-type relationships. 

It also covers the former spouse or former de facto partner of the other person’s current spouse or current de facto partner.” 

This applies no matter the gender experience or identity of the people in the relationship – FVROs are the same for trans people as they are for cis people. 

If you require support, Legal Aid WA details the Court Procedure for FVROs with links to legal services which are able to assist you in lodging an application online. 

Support Services

For more information about finding professionals who’ll work with and support you, head to our pages about Finding A Doctor and Mental Health support. 

National: 

  • 1800 Respect – 24 hours, 7 days a week  
  • Open 24 hours to support people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.  
  • Phone service: 1800 737 732 / Website 
  • Full STOP Australia – 24 hours, 7 days a week  
  • Full Stop Australia supports people affected by sexual, domestic or family violence. They offer telephone, online and face to face counselling to people of all genders who have experienced sexual, domestic or family violence, and their supporters.  
  • Phone service: 1800 424 017 / Website 
  • Qlife – 3pm to 9pm, 7 days a week  
  • Anonymous phone and online counselling service staffed by LGBTQIA+ community members, with training in crisis management and support for a whole range of sexuality, gender, and totally unrelated issues.  
  • Relationships Australia    
  • Promotes the importance of respectful relationships and provides support services across each Australian state and territory. 

Australian Capital Territory (ACT):  

  • Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) – 24/7 Crisis Support Helpline 
  • Services available to anyone living in the ACT region affected by domestic and family violence. 
  • Legal Aid ACT – Domestic Violence and Personal Protection Order Unit 
  • Helps anyone in ACT who has concerns about their safety. Provides specialist domestic and family violence lawyers who are available to provide you with free legal help every day of the week. 
  • Phone: 2 6207 1974 or 1300 654 314 (Weekdays, 9am-4pm) / Website 

New South Wales (NSW): 

  • Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) 
  • Not-for-profit community legal centre offering free legal services to residents of Sydney’s inner city and eastern suburbs. It also provides specialised support to the LGBTQI+ community, trans and gender diverse individuals, sex workers, and offers employment law advice across New South Wales. 
  • ICLC Safe Relationships Project can assist clients in accessing legal representation and to apply for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVO) or Apprehended Personal Violence Orders (APVO) to help put an end to the violence they are experiencing. 
  • Phone: (02) 9332 1966 or 1800 244 481 (Weekdays, 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm) / Website 

Northern Territory (NT):  

  • Legal Aid NT 
  • Legal information, legal advice, representation, and family dispute resolution across the NT. 
  • Darwin Community Legal Service 
  • Free, confidential service that supports members of the community to protect their legal rights. 
  • (08) 8982 1111 or 1800 812 953 (free call) (Weekdays, 9am-4pm) / Website 

There is no dedicated DV service for trans and gender diverse people in NT, so it is recommended you engage with peer support when accessing mainstream services. The below services can support you: 

  • NTAHC (Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council Inc.) 
  • Supports the health and wellbeing of LGBTI communities through evidence informed peer-led services, responsive community education and targeted advocacy. Offers case management & peer support for trans and gender diverse people. 
  • Vital Collective 
  • Grassroots organising and advocacy group for and by the Sistergirl, Brotherboy, and LGBTIQAP+ communities in the central deserts. Peer support available for trans and gender diverse people. 
  • Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia  
  • Responds and prevents gendered violence in Central Australia by providing safe accommodation and support services for women and children who are experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence. 
  • Includes trans women, non-binary people and women in same-sex relationships. 
  • Crisis Accommodation, Phone: 08 8952 6075 / Outreach Support, Phone: 08 8953 7648 / Website 

Queensland (QLD): 

  • LGBTI Legal Service 
  • Provides access to justice and legal assistance to the LGBTIQA+ community in Queensland. 
  • Phone: 07 3124 7160 / Text: 0485 908 380 / Website 
  • Diverse Voices – Domestic and Family Violence Support –  
  • Provides an anonymous service supporting LGBTIQASB+ communities through: counselling, risk assessment and safety planning, information and referrals (with your consent), applications, and individual support and case management. 
  • Phone: 07 3111 6729 (Weekdays, 9.00am – 4.00pm) / Website 
  • Open Doors Youth Service 
  • Provides support services to LGBTIQAP+SB young people aged 12-24 years and their families. 
  • Foritude Valley, Phone: (07) 3257 7660 / Logan, Phone: 0478 672 274 (call or text) / Website 
  • DV Connect – 24hr Domestic Violence Helpline 
  • Helps Queenslanders find pathways to safety, away from domestic, family and sexual violence. 
  • Victim Connect – 24hr Victims of Crime Helpline   
  • Free and confidential service which provides specialist counselling and case management to assist with the practical impacts of violent crime. 
  • Victim Assist Queensland 

South Australia (SA):  

  • SHINE SA – With Respect Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) Counselling Service for LGBTIQA+ People 
  • provides free specialist counselling support for LGBTIQA+ people who have been impacted by family, domestic or sexual violence.  This service can offer counselling support, information, and referrals to other services if needed. 
  • Phone: 8300 5300  (ask to book an appointment with the With Respect counsellor) / Website 
  • Cedar Health Service (Women and Children’s Health Network) – Weekdays, 9am-5pm 
  • Free, inclusive health service for people 16 and older who have experienced/are experiencing family and domestic violence. This service provides explicitly LGBTQIA+ affirming and culturally safe care.  
  • Phone: (08) 8444 0700 / Website 
  • Relationships Australia SA (RASA) 
  • Provide a range of services to people experiencing domestic violence. This specialised service can provide individual and family counselling, family safety planning, referrals to group education and behavioural change programs, and referrals to other services where needed. 
  • Phone: 1300 364 277 (cost of a local call) or 1800 182 325 (country callers) / Website 
  • Women’s Safety Services  
  • Provides a range of supports to people experiencing or at risk of domestic and family violence. This includes case management, risk assessment, safety planning, counselling, and referrals to specialist services if needed. 
  • Supports people of all genders and has undertaken professional development to ensure it can provide inclusive services.  
  • Phone: (08) 8152 9200 / To contact one of their specialist services directly visit the Contact page / Website 
  • Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service  
  • South Australia’s primary sexual assault service which provides free and confidential assistance. Offers a 24-hour crisis response service for those who have been recently sexually assaulted, where they are able to access support from a social worker, receive medical care by a doctor or nurse, and collect forensic evidence for those who are considering taking legal action. 

Tasmania (TAS): 

  • TAS Family Violence Response and Referral Line – 24 hours, 7 days a week.  
  • Ph: 1800 633 937    
  • TAS Family Violence Counselling and Support Service   
  • Ph:1800 608 122 (9am – midnight weekdays; 4pm – midnight weekends & public holidays)  
  • Children and Young Persons Program (CHYPP) –  Ph: 1800 608 122 (9am-5pm weekdays)   
  • Engender Equality  
  • Offer a free and confidential specialist LGBTIQA+ family & sexual violence support service with a dedicated LGBTIQA+ Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) counsellor available for in-person, phone, email and online support.  
  • Safe At Home  
  • Integrated criminal justice response to family violence and is underpinned by the Tas Family Violence Act (2004) with a range of services working together to address the risk and safety needs of victims and children and hold perpetrators accountable.  
  • Tasmania Legal Aid    
  • Provide legal information and advice, representation, minor assistance, mediation and legal education to all Tasmanians. 
  • Ph: 1300 366 611 to arrange an appointment with a Safe at Home Solicitor / Website 

Victoria (VIC):  

  • Rainbow Door – 10am – 5pm, 7 Days 
  • If you feel unsafe in your relationship and are unsure about where to go for support, Rainbow Door is a helpline for LGBTIQA+ community members and their family and friends to talk about what is going on for them. 
  • Phone: 1800 729 367 / Text: 0480 017 246 / Email: su*****@*************rg.au / Website 
  • VIC Sexual Assault Crisis Line – 5pm weeknights through to 9am the next day, throughout weekends and public holidays 
  • State-wide, after-hours, confidential, telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault. 
  • Queerspace 
  • Dedicated to upholding the wellbeing and mental health of Melbourne’s LGBTIQ+ community. 
  • Ongoing support through programs: 
  • WithRespect – specialist LGBTIQ+ family violence initiative 
  • iHeal – provides support and services to survivors of intimate partner and family violence who are no longer in crisis 
  • Futures Free from Violence (FFFV) – Offers women, trans, and gender diverse people who have used force and/or violence in family and intimate partner relationships the opportunity to work towards change in both a supported group and one-to-one therapeutic environment 

Western Australia (WA):  

  • Legal Aid WA  
  • Promotes access to legal services and information for all West Australians with specialist legal services for people experiencing family and domestic violence, called the Domestic Violence Legal Unit (DVLU) 

Although WA does not have LGBTQ+ specific family and domestic violence counsellors, you may decide to seek counselling from family and domestic violence specialists, LGBTQ+ specialists, or a non-specialist that you feel comfortable with.  

A directory of family and domestic violence supports and services throughout WA, can be found on The Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing’s (CWSW). Note: Many of these services are often focused on supporting women experiencing family and domestic violence with a male perpetrator

Related Topics

What are you looking for?