Type of service: Family violence legal support

These services can provide legal advice and support around family violence issues, including family violence intervention orders and safety notices, and matters relating to separation and family law.

Women’s Legal Service

Women’s Legal Service Victoria is a not for profit organisation which has been providing free legal services to women since 1982. They work with and for women experiencing particular disadvantage to address legal issues arising from relationship breakdown or violence.
They are funded by the Indigenous Justice and Legal Assistance Division, Attorney General’s Department, Canberra and Victoria Legal Aid.
This service offers tailored support for:
Service offered:
Contact:

03 8622 0600

admin@womenslegal.org.au

Website

Seniors Rights Victoria

Seniors Rights Victoria has a team of experienced advocates, such as social workers, who provide free information, advice, referral and support to older people who are either at risk of or are experiencing elder abuse or to other people, such as family members and friends, who are concerned that someone else may be experiencing elder abuse. Our advocates can also provide information to other professionals concerned about someone experiencing elder abuse.

Seniors Rights Victoria was established in 2008. It is a program of the Council of the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and is governed by its Board. Victoria Legal Aid and the Department of Health and Human Services provide the main funding. Seniors Rights Victoria works closely with Justice Connect’s Seniors Law team and Eastern Community Legal Centre’s elder abuse services.

This service offers tailored support for:
Service offered:
Contact:

1300 368 821

casework@seniorsrights.org.au

Website

Justice Connect

Justice Connect design and deliver high impact interventions that increase access to legal support and progress social justice. Justice Connect helps older people facing complex legal problems that arise from elder abuse.

Justice Connect doesn’t currently work in the realm of family-violence related family law. This service may be able to support Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIO) when associated with a primary matter.

This service offers tailored support for:
Service offered:
Contact:

03 8636 4400

Website

Federation of Community Legal Centres

Visit the Federation of Community Legal Centres website for a list of local legal services that can help with family violence issues including free information and advice about intervention orders before or on the court date, or what to do about family violence if you do not have a court date.

This service offers tailored support for:
Service offered:
Contact:

03 9652 1500
administration@fclc.org.au

Website

Djirra

Djirra is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation providing practical support to Aboriginal people who are currently experiencing family violence or have in the past.

Djirra offers Aboriginal women counselling sessions, safety planning discussions and follow-up support, financial assistance through Flexible Support Packages, and personalised referrals to specialist support services with issues such as housing and homelessness, drugs and alcohol, parenting, debt and employment.

Djirra’s Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service supports Aboriginal people affected by family violence and non-Aboriginal people experiencing family violence who are parents of Aboriginal children. They provide legal advice and representation, including court representation in relation to Intervention Orders, Family Law, Child Protection and Victims of Crime assistance.

Djirra provides services across Victoria with offices in metropolitan and regional areas. Their services include telephone and face-to-face legal and non-legal support.

Contact:

1800 105 303

info@djirra.org.au

Website
Hours:

Mon-Fri 9:00am-10:00pm

SAFE AND EQUAL MEMBER

GenWest

Women’s Health West (WHW) is the women’s health service for the western metropolitan region of Melbourne. Their family violence service provides women and children with the range of services they require while in crisis – such as court support, crisis housing and case management – through to services designed to promote healing and recovery, such as children’s counselling.

Contact:

03 9689 9588

general enquiries: info@whwest.org.au

family violence enquiries: fvassist@whwest.org.au

Website
Hours:

Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm

VincentCare Victoria

VincentCare Victoria’s family violence programs provide advocacy and support to women and children escaping family violence to support them to live safely and independently in the community. Based on the Bayside Peninsula, VincentCare provides refuge accommodation and information on future housing options, as well as referrals to specialised counselling, court support, and material and financial assistance.

Contact:

03 9611 9200

vincentcare@vincentcare.org.au

Website
Hours:

Mon – Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm

VincentCare Victoria

VincentCare Victoria’s family violence programs provide advocacy and support to women and children escaping family violence to support them to live safely and independently in the community. Based in Goulburn, VincentCare provides refuge accommodation and information on future housing options, as well as referrals to specialised counselling, court support, and material and financial assistance.

Contact:

03 9611 9200

vincentcare@vincentcare.org.au

Website
Hours:

Mon – Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm