Scenario 5: Feeling unsafe in a relationship

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Family violence is when a family member or intimate partner hurts you or does things that make you feel scared, sad or controlled.

There is a free and confidential service called Safe Steps that can help you understand family violence and get support.

A family violence intervention order is an order that stops a family member or intimate partner from hurting or upsetting you.

It can stop someone from going near you or talking to you, and can even make them leave a house that you share.

The other person must follow the order. If they do not, they can be criminally charged by the Police.

To find out more about family violence, you can get online information at Victoria Legal Aid.

You can also call Victoria Legal Aid (1300 792 387) or a Community Legal Centre for free, confidential advice on what to do. You can ask them to organise an interpreter for you.

Learn more about issues like this

Learn more about the people and places that can help

Free Legal Help

Lawyers are here to help you. They can give you clear directions about what to do next based on what you want, and they can do things for you like talk to other people, speak in court and draft documents. If you speak to a lawyer, they cannot tell anyone what you have said – including migration authorities, police and family. What you tell them won’t affect your visa, work or education.

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA)

If you have a legal problem, you can read free legal information on the VLA website. They can also give you free and confidential legal advice on the phone in your language and sometimes give you ongoing help with your situation.

Community Legal Centres (CLCs)

Community Legal Centres (CLCs) are independent community organisations that provide free and confidential legal services to the public. They help people who are ineligible for legal aid and cannot afford a private lawyer.

They can provide free legal information, advice and in some cases ongoing assistance to you as an international student.

Other Services

Some services can provide you with support or information. This might include general information about your options. They are a good place to start when you are having trouble and want to find out more about what you can do.

Safe Steps

If a family member or someone you are in an intimate relationship with is hurting you or making you feel scared, sad or controlled, Safe Steps can help you with free 24/7 phone advice and specialist support services. They also provide online translated information in your language.