Family and Gender-based Violence Prevention

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Hume City Council is committed to preventing family and gender-based violence and working towards a future where everyone is safe, equal and respected.

Family Violence

Family violence is any violent, threatening, coercive or controlling behaviour that occurs in current or past family, domestic or intimate relationships. This includes not only physical injury but direct or indirect threats, sexual assault, emotional and psychological torment, economic control, damage to property, social isolation and any behaviour which causes a person to live in fear.

Domestic and family violence can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or socioeconomic status; however, evidence shows that family violence is predominantly perpetrated by men against women. In Australia, one woman a week on average is murdered by her current or former male partner.

The good news is that family violence is preventable. By addressing gender inequality and the underlying drivers and reinforcing factors of violence, we can prevent it from happening in the first place.

Council is committed to preventing family violence and supporting those who are experiencing it. We work collaboratively with the Victorian Government and the Hume community to provide quality prevention and response initiatives. See below for information on current initiatives. 

Family Violence Support Services

If you or someone you know is experiencing or using violence, help is available.(PDF, 320KB) 

  • Safe Steps − confidential and supportive family violence response line for Victoria | 1800 015 188
  • The Orange Door − family violence support and services across Victoria
  • Elizabeth Morgan House − Aboriginal women's service that provides culturally safe, holistic case management and support 24/7 | 1800 364 297
  • Djirra − culturally safe space and practical support to all Aboriginal women | 1800 105 303
  • inTouch − specialist family violence service that works with multicultural women, their families, and their communities | 1800 755 988
  • 1800 RESPECT − national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service available via phone or online 24/7 | 1800 737 732
  • Kids Helpline − counselling service for Australian's aged 5-25 years old, available via phone and online 24/7 | 1800 55 1800
  • Rainbow Door − free specialist LGBTIQ+ helpline providing information, support and referral to all LGBTIQ+ Victorians, their friends and family | 1800 729 367
  • Men's Referral Service − anonymous and confidential phone counselling and support to help them take action to stop using violent and controlling behaviour | 1300 766 491
  • Seniors Rights Victoria − information and advice to help prevent elder abuse | 1300 368 821

If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 000 and ask for the police.

Resources 

This 16 Days of Activism and beyond, let's change the story and create a future where we are all safe, equal and respected.

Watch the video in Vietnamese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese/CantoneseFarsi, Dari or Arabic

How to Respond if someone tell you they are experiencing family violence