Safe Steps provides a lifeline to individuals and families experiencing family and domestic violence. We conduct risk assessments and safety planning, provide pathways into emergency and supported accommodation across Victoria – including short-term pet-friendly options – collaborate with agencies to provide financial and material aid, and offer support and advice in the family courts and for people with a disability.
Connecting You
with Support
Family and Domestic Violence Crisis Support Service
Support When You Need It Most
Family and Domestic Violence Crisis Support Services
Our comprehensive services are designed to meet diverse needs, offering immediate safety, emotional support, and tailored programs to help rebuild lives. Whether you’re seeking crisis support to escape an unsafe situation, or guidance through complex situations, we are here to empower you every step of the way.
Our services provide immediate, practical, and compassionate support to all individuals and families in need. Here are some of the key ways we assist:
- 24/7 Crisis Support: We are always here to listen, believe, and help you take the first step to safety.
- Disability Support: Accessible and inclusive assistance tailored to your needs through our Disability Family Violence Crisis Response Initiative.
- Crisis Accommodation: Safe, supportive spaces for individuals and families escaping violence.
- Pets in Crisis Program: Collaboration with animal shelters to provide temporary housing for pets and health and well-being support.
- Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS): Collaboration with the Melbourne registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia to provide social support.
You’re Not Alone
Call Us Any Time, Day or Night
Explore Our Services
Learn more about the services Safe Steps offers to support individuals and families experiencing family violence:
- 24/7 Crisis Support
- Crisis Accommodation
- Disability Support
- Pets in Crisis Program
- Court Support Services
Speak to someone 365 days a year.
Safe Steps operates Victoria’s only 24/7 statewide family and domestic violence crisis support service. This service is confidential, compassionate, and available to everyone experiencing family and domestic violence, providing immediate support, safety planning, and emergency response coordination.
Whether you need immediate intervention or help understanding your options, we are always just a call away.
Impact: In 2024, our crisis line handled over 130,000 contacts, connecting individuals with life-saving resources.
Approximately 90 victim survivors offered safety each and every night across Victoria last year.
Safe Steps crisis accommodation sites offer wrap-around support, including legal, medical, financial, and child support services.
Sanctuary, Virginia’s Place, and Trish’s Place are safe, healing spaces for people escaping critical family and domestic violence situations.
Safe Steps has had an independent evaluation of Sanctuary conducted. You can see the outcomes here.
Impact: Last year, Safe Steps provided 33,000 nights of crisis accommodation.
We support all people who are experiencing family and domestic violence and who identify living with a Disability.
We understand that help seekers with disabilities often face additional barriers to escaping family and domestic violence and seeking help.
Through our Disability Family Violence Crisis Response Initiative, we ensure that if you live with a disability (physical, intellectual, psycho-social or emotional), have a chronic health condition, or have a temporary disability because of the family or domestic violence you experienced, we can provide you with the support you need. These services are also available for children with a disability.
From mobility and sensory aids, to disability support workers or accessible accommodation, we prioritise your needs.
We will also make sure your assistance animal needs are met.
Together, we will explore options, create a safety plan, and put in place measures that will support your healing recovery.
Our specialist Family Violence Disability Liaison Officers work with you to develop a plan that meets your specific needs.
We can help by providing:
- Access to brokerage funding for the specialist goods, services or supports that are needed such as:
- Personal support workers and carers
- Aids and equipment – walkers, wheelchairs, sensory items, shower chairs, etc.
- Accessible transport options
- Information and referral to other support services
Collaboration with animal shelters to provide temporary housing for pets.
We understand that pets are family. Our support ensures no one has to choose between safety and leaving their beloved animals behind.
In most cases, we will be able to safely accommodate pets in the same place as their owners. Where this is not possible, we will work with our partners to provide safe accommodation until you can be reunited.
We can also help with basic treatment including vaccinations as well as additional support around their health and wellbeing.
Impact: In FY24, we spent 58% more on pets compared to FY23.
Expert guidance to help you feel confident and informed during legal proceedings.
Navigating the court system can be confusing and overwhelming. Safe Steps provides practical support, such as accompanying you to court hearings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and connecting you with legal professionals.
Our Family Violence Crisis Specialists provide support and safety planning for people coming to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia., *Safe Steps does not provide legal advice.
The Safe Steps Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS) team provide social support at the Melbourne registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Impact: In 2023/24 the Safe Steps FASS team supported 400 women in court.
For assistance with Intervention Orders and other Magistrate’s Court matters contact us on the following options.
Your Path to Safety
Every Safe Steps engagement is founded in compassion, confidentiality, and respect. Whether you need immediate assistance, ongoing support, or guidance through the legal system, we are here for you.
- Call our crisis line for 24/7 confidential support.
- Access safe and inclusive spaces for you and your loved ones.
- Take the first step toward reclaiming your safety and independence.
Commitment to supporting all people experiencing domestic and family violence.
At Safe Steps, we’re committed to supporting all people experiencing domestic and family violence to access our 24/7 crisis response services.
We’re committed to providing a child-safe environment and have zero tolerance of any form of violence or abuse perpetrated against children and young people.
Our practice is trauma and violence-informed, person-centred and applied through an intersectional lens. We work with all people experiencing domestic and family violence to tailor our crisis response services and/or referral to other services to address individual circumstances.
We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those with a disability and those from the LGBTIQA+ community may have specific needs and we’re committed to providing inclusive practices to support those needs.
What you can expect from us:
When accessing Safe Steps services, you can expect to:
- Feel safe, heard and believed.
- Be treated with dignity, respect, sensitivity and understanding.
- Be given information about our services and/or other services to meet your needs.
- Make your own choices and decisions.
- Involve an advocate of your choice.
- Have your personal and sensitive information managed to protect your privacy (add link to policy pdf).
- Access your own records.
- Complain about us without fear of being penalised. You can provide your Feedback at quality@safesteps.org.au.
What we expect from you
When accessing Safe Steps services, we ask that you:
- Treat our workers with respect.
- Adhere to service guidelines, including the Conditions of Stay when accessing emergency accommodation.
- Engage with us to manage your safety.
- Talk to us and let us know if we’re not meeting your needs. You can also provide your Feedback at quality@safesteps.org.au.
We’re Here for You
News
Everything you need know about Safe Steps including news, stories and program updates.
Safe Steps respectfully acknowledges and celebrates the Traditional Owners of the lands throughout Victoria and pays respects to their Elders of past, current and future generations.
Safe Steps is committed to ensuring diversity, inclusion and equity are embedded throughout our organisation for the benefit of our clients and our staff. We are committed to a focus on recognising and eliminating discrimination in the services we deliver. Read our Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Statement here.
Safe Steps is committed to creating and maintaining a Child Safe Organisation; ensuring obligations to meet the Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme requirements, as codified by the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic). You can read more about this commitment in our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy here.
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre is supported by the Victorian Government.
