I am a young person

Young people and safety

Young people have the right to be safe in their relationships. This page has some information about safety.

What danger/ warning signs can look like

  • Is someone being overly possessive and not letting you be yourself?
  • Is someone becoming jealous of attention you get from others?
  • Do they pressure you not see people who are important to you?
  • Are you feeling worried they will make you do something that you do not want to do?
  • Are there excuses made for behaviour stating it is because they ‘love you so much’ or you made them angry?
  • Are you being encouraged to depend on them and not be independent in your thoughts or actions?
  • Are they making threats to you?
  • Are you afraid that they will hurt you or someone you love?
  • Do they make you feel scared, or make you feel like you have to ‘walk on eggshells’ around them?

What you can do

If you are ever in immediate danger call 000

  • Think about the person’s behaviour and be aware of potential warning signsCreate a safety plan
  • Keep your mobile with you in case you need to call someone for help and have easy access to emergency numbers: a parent, neighbour, or police
  • Remember you may not be able to control the abusive person’s behaviour with words or actions, so consider removing yourself if you can
  • It is your human right to be safe. Reach out and get support – you can get free advice to understand your situation and what support is available

What you can think

  • Use your own thoughts to throw away hurtful, scary things that an abusive person says instead of taking this as the truth
  • Believe kind things about yourself and take back the power within you
  • Abuse is never your fault

Staying safe after you leave

  • If your ex-partner’s behaviours continue to make you feel afraid, share this information with trusted adults
  • If you feel you are being followed, monitored, or receiving unwanted contact from your ex-partner, speak to your family or friends
  • If you feel in danger of being harmed or assaulted, call the Police on 000
  • You can change your passwords for social media/emails/phones/computers etc.
  • If you are continuing to receive phone contact, consider blocking the person, or changing your phone number
  • You can change the settings on your social media profiles to private
  • Document any forms of abuse via text or social media apps
  • Screenshot messages as they may come in useful later if needing support from Police
  • Do not respond to messages but collect as evidence where able

Tech safety

  • If your battery is constantly drained, this can be a sign that your phone has been hacked
    Run a safety check (online or ask your phone provider) to make sure it has not been hacked by your ex-partner
  • Mobile phones can have Apps that allow someone to track your movements. If you are worried get advice to help delete these apps or to get a different phone
  • If you feel unsure, ask a support service for help
  • You can keep important contact details or screenshots of harassment backed up somewhere other than your phone – in case it is broken or withheld from you

 

You can check all apps on your phone and check out info about social media safety online:

  • eSafety social media safety checklist here
  • DVAC tech safety fact sheet here

Support services

When you speak to us, we will
RESPECT you, BELIEVE you, and make you feel COMFORTABLE.

The person on the other end of the phone works with teenagers on a regular basis and will do their best to help you. They understand how hard it can be to leave an abusive relationship.

Domestic Violence Action Centre (DVAC):
Ipswich: 07 3816 3000
Toowoomba: 07 4642 1354

DV Connect: 1800 811 811 (24/7 )

1800 Respect: 1800 737 732

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

In an emergency call 000

Resources

Safety and wellbeing

Children and young people have rights to be safe. You can find out more about our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and your rights here.

 

Videos about consent

DVAC have developed a video with young people and the community, about consent and young people:

What is consent?

Toxic Love Signs - The Allison Baden-Clay Foundation

This video depicts toxic behaviours in youth relationships (ages 14-18), including isolation, gaslighting, technology abuse (sexting), and diminishing self-esteem. This is a 4-part video series stitched into one compilation. These are real experiences.

NOTE: The Allison Baden-Clay Foundation acknowledges that men are victims of domestic violence, and that there are women perpetrators, further, domestic violence can be present within any form of personal relationship. Research does show, however, that around 95% of all victims of violence regardless of gender experience violence at the hands of a male perpetrator. It is with this in mind that we state our focus of looking beyond the labels of men being perpetrators and women being victims, to strive towards achieving gender equality and the broader prevention of domestic abuse.

CAMPAIGN CREDITS
Partner - Domestic Violence Action Centre (DVAC)
Creative ‘Pro Bono’ Partner - M4M Agency
Production Team - Slate Media

Cover of Healthy Relationships booklet

Healthy Relationships

Information for young people. Download the booklet here (PDF 2MB)

Front of Youth Sexual Violence brochure

Youth Sexual Violence

For young people who have experienced sexual violence. Download the brochure here (PDF 1MB)

Teen Power and Control Wheel

Developed from the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, produced by the National Centre on Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Teen power and control wheel

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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