Safety planning

Safety planning is when you do things that make you and your family safer when you are experiencing domestic and family violence and abuse.

Sometimes safety plans might include trusted family members, friends, community members or support services. For some people it is not safe to include other people in their safety plans.

If you need support to make a safety plan for you or your children, our service can help you.

If you are safety planning for yourself think about the things that help you feel safer, and the things that make you feel less safe. Some people find it helpful to write down their safety plan, but this might not be safe for you.

Before writing down a safety plan think about whether it is safe to do so and if there is somewhere safe you can keep it where no one else will see it.

It is very important to trust yourself and your instincts when safety planning.

You and your children have the right to be safe.

These guides supply general information only – not all safety planning options listed will be right for you or your family.

Please contact us if this is something you want help with.

Fact sheets


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Technology

Download the Fact Sheet (PDF 1.3mb)


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If you are staying in your relationship

Download the Fact Sheet (PDF 693kb)


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If you are planning to leave

Download the Fact Sheet (PDF 1mb)


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If you have left your relationship

Download the Fact Sheet (PDF 1mb)


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Safety planning for pets

Download the Fact Sheet (PDF 706kb)

For parents and carers with children and young people


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Safety Planning with Children and Young People

Download the Flyer (PDF 723kb)


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De-escalating children in the moment

Download the Flyer (PDF 1.3mb)


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Talking to children about DV

Download the Flyer (PDF 1.2mb)


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Talking to children about contact visits

Download the Flyer (PDF 1.3mb)

In an emergency call the Police on 000

Are you worried someone will find out you visited this website?

Our website has a quick exit button near the bottom right-hand corner of the page. This button will close the DVAC website and open ABC News and the Google homepage. The button may be helpful if you are worried that you are being monitored and you are concerned that someone is about to see you looking at the DVAC site.

You may also want to delete your browser history. This means that the history of the websites you have visited will not be able to be seen. For information on deleting your internet history click here.

If someone is monitoring your online activity using spyware or monitoring devices, they may still be able to see that you have visited this website.

To discuss your online safety, speak with your DVAC support worker or call DVConnect 1800 811 811 (24-hour telephone advice line) or 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) (24-hour telephone counselling line).

For more information on your digital safety see:

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