Seeking Safety

Seeking safety

Are you thinking about leaving the relationship? thinking about your options? Leaving is not easy but you deserve to live a life without fear and shame. Remember it’s not your fault if you are being abused. Abusers often will blame you for their behaviour but, in truth, they are responsible for their own actions. Their behaviour is deliberate and designed to control you and make you do what they want. 

Plan for your safety

If you are thinking about leaving we encourage you to make a plan about how to do this as safely as possible. Abusers who experience a loss of control of you at the time of separation may try to regain it by escalating forms of violence.

You can call Women’s House (07) 3391 0005 to discuss how best to leave safely or DV Connect (24-hour service) on 1800 811 811 for referral to a women’s refuge

You will be the best judge of when it is safest to leave.

Things to consider if you decide to leave:

  • If you can, take your children with you

  • Check your phone and other tech devices to see if you are being tracked Tech facilitated abuse survey.pdf

  • If you can, take money and paperwork, such as identification, birth certificates, passports, rental contracts, mortgage papers, car registration, etc.

  • Try to take medication, clothing, house and car keys, and items that may be destroyed, like photographs.

  • Change your passwords and pin numbers

Are you thinking about applying for a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVO)?

A Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVO) is a document issued by the court that lists rules of behaviour (called conditions) that an abuser must obey or face legal consequences.  If an abuser breaks (breaches) a condition of a DVO, the police may charge the abuser with an offence. A DVO may help to keep you safe, however, not all perpetrators will be deterred by a DVO and sometimes it can be difficult to get police to take action when a condition is breached.    You can call Women’s House for more information about and assistance with applying for a DVO. 

You don’t have to go it alone.
Seek support from family, friends and community. Stay connected.