If you are still living with the perpetrator and are not ready to leave there are things you can do to improve yours and your children’s safety, this can include:

• Find out the emergency numbers you may need – Police, Women’s Refuge, doctor, lawyer, school, friends and family. Keep these with you.
• Find yourself a support person (a friend, Refuge advocate, community worker etc.) who you can talk to.
• If possible get a mobile phone and keep it with you. Even a pre-paid mobile phone with no money on it can be used to call Emergency 000.
• If it’s safe, you could apply for a violence restraining order (see a Women’s Refuge or a lawyer for advice or Click Here for further information).
• Tell your friends and neighbours’, let them know that you have fears for your safety.
• Ask them to watch out and ring the police if they hear anything. You could set up a code that will tell the neighbours you are in trouble e.g. ring, hanging up, ring again.
• Tell the abuser, friends and family that you are not going to put up with the violence.

• Get your own house and car keys and keep them in a safe place.

• Open your own bank account and try to save some money.
• If you have no money, you may be able to apply for a Centrelink benefit. If you are in a violent relationship and your partner is not supporting you financially or emotionally, then you may be able to apply a benefit as though you were single. Talk to a Centrelink customer services officer on 1800 050 004 (FreeCall) or Click Here to visit the Centrelink website .
• Photocopy personal documents and keep them with you.

If the perpetrator has left your home there are things you can do to improve yours and your children’s safety, this can include:

• Changing or improving door and window locks;
• Installing external sensor lights;
• Install a peephole and safety chain on the front door;
• Inform close neighbours that your partner has left and to call the Police if they observe this person near the house;
• Apply for a Violence Restraining Order and keep a copy of it with you at all times (see a Women’s Refuge or a lawyer for advice or Click Here for further information).
• Record and report any breaches of your Violence Restraining Order to the Police.
• Plan and practice with your children what they are able to do to get help.
• Use an answering machine to screen calls.
• Choose a code word that you can use without attracting attention e.g. on the phone. Let family and friends know that when they hear the word it means that a crisis is occurring.
• If there is a ‘safe room’ in your house that you can secure, has mobile phone coverage, and that you can lock (this could be a bathroom or laundry with no windows or with small/secure windows) this can be a secure place for you and your children to wait for the arrival of the Police.
• Contact a support service (visit our Contacts page) who can help you to develop a comprehensive safety plan and support you to remain safely in your home.

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