| How we can help you WDVCS acknowledges that violence against women: • is a violation of human rights and a crime against women and society. The entire community is responsible for its elimination. • is an abuse of power based on gender, race, class, disability, sexuality and age inequality. • includes emotional, psychological, physical, sexual and financial abuse. • has consequences for individuals, families and communities. The experience of violence against women and responses to it are affected by gender, race, sexuality, class, age and dis-ability. The Womens Domestic Violence Crisis service is an independent Victoria wide service for women experiencing violence and abuse from a partner, ex-partner, another family member or someone else they are close to. The WDVCS is staffed by women and you can call confidentially 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Family violence or domestic violence isn’t all about broken bones and black eyes; often there is no physical abuse. Many women think that they have to be physically hurt by their partner before they can get help. This is not true. Our service can offer you a range of options, support and a plan for your future. | “Making that call, speaking to another woman, who listened and understood, made me feel like I wasn’t alone… that there is help out there… that you don’t have to handle this on your own” |
Family violence covers a wide range of behaviours. Lists like the one on this web-site, may help you to recognise that what is happening to you is not right, and in some cases even criminal, but they don’t replace the immediate reassurance you might get by calling us. Women often minimise what has been happening, to protect themselves, their children or their friends. It can be extremely hard to put into words how your partner’s behaviour is making you feel. At WDVCS we know how hard it can be to make that phone call, how hard it can be to acknowledge that you aren’t being treated properly, that you may feel confused, you might have lost confidence in your own judgement, your own ability to make decisions, or to make any changes in your life. As a caller to our service, you will have the right to: • Be heard • Be believed • Be treated with dignity, respect, sensitivity and understanding • Privacy and confidentiality • Be provided with information about your rights and entitlements • Control decision making • Access your own personal information What we can do for you includes; • Support to make decisions for a safer future • Information about rights and options • Helping you to stay safely in your own home (with children) while the violent or abusive person is required by law to leave • Helping you to leave your home (even temporarily), until the perpetrator can be held to account • Getting you to emergency accommodation or refuge, and assistance to find new and safe accommodation • Information about rights and entitlements at times of crisis and as a victim of a crime • Crisis counselling • Advocacy with support services, the police and criminal justice systems • Putting you in touch with local support agencies throughout Victoria • Telephone support and information for non-offending family members and friends |