Your safety and the safety of the children is most important. You could make a plan for those times when you feel unsafe or at risk of being hurt. The following safety plan is an example of what you can do to prepare for a time when you are in danger and need to leave quickly.
- Decide who you will call if you feel threatened or in danger. This may be the Police (000) or could also be a neighbour, relative or friend. You may also wish to contact dvconnect's womensline on 1800 811 811. This is a statewide telephone service for women experiencing domestic and family violence operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- You may need to leave the house in a hurry if you think you may be hurt.
- Decide where you will go if you need a safe place.
- If you have children, develop a safety plan for them including a safe place they can go if you are unable to get away.
- Decide what arrangements you can make for your pets if they will be at risk of being harmed. If you are unable to place your pets somewhere safe, the Pets in Crisis Domestic Violence Program offered by dvconnect in partnership with the RSPCA will be able to help. Phone dvconnect's womensline on 1800 811 811 for more information and assistance.
- If possible keep some money for a taxi, bus or train for emergency transportation to a safe place.
- Keep extra keys to your house and car in a safe place.
- Make a list of emergency phone numbers. Put them into your mobile phone memory. Code them if you are concerned someone might search your mobile.
- Consider keeping some clothing, medications, prescriptions, important papers, keys and money in a safe place or with someone you can trust.
- Consider copying documents that can be used as forms of identification and have these copies verified by a JP. Keep these copies in a safe place in case you need them at short notice. You may need to obtain government financial assistance which will require identification.
- If possible, practice travelling to the location that you have chosen as a safe place.
- If you call a domestic and family violence service for help, dial another number immediately afterwards so that your call history can't be tracked. Also, remove the call from the call log on your mobile phone.
- Searches to websites can be traced in a computer's cache. For your own safety:
- use a computer at a library or internet café
- learn how to delete search histories in a computer's cache
- Find out more information about online security measures.
Confidential support and advice for women affected by domestic violence is available by phoning dvconnect Womensline on 1800 811 811 (24 hours, 7 days a week).
Note: This number is not recorded on your phone bill.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License