What Is Domestic and Family Violence?
Domestic and family violence is any behaviour that occurs in family, family-like, or intimate relationships used to control someone and makes that person afraid for their safety and wellbeing or the safety of another person. Family violence isn’t just physical abuse. It can include:
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional and psychological abuse
- Financial abuse, such as withholding money or not allowing you to work
- Controlling what you can and cannot do
- Tracking and surveillance of your car or devices
- Isolating you from family and friends
- Stopping you from leaving the house
- Threatening you or your loved ones including children, pets or other family members
- Destroying your personal belongings
For children, family violence also includes situations where they see, hear or are otherwise exposed to violence. This can happen even if the violence is not directed at them. Family violence can occur within the wider family, including extended family members and kinship networks.
For more information on what domestic and family violence looks like, visit safesteps.org.au.
How Juno Can Support You:
Juno offers free specialist family violence services to women, trans and gender diverse people and children in the Hume Merri-bek region. Our Family Violence Workers can:
- Work with you to understand and assess your risk, help you plan next steps and create a personal safety plan designed to keep you and your children safe
- Explore housing options and safe accommodation for you and any children or pets, including emergency accommodation in times of high risk
- Support you with how you may be able to stay in your home – if it is safe to do so – when the person using family violence is required by law to leave
- Support your recovery by addressing the impacts of family violence on your life, including your health and wellbeing
- Refer you to local services that can provide specialist legal, financial, cultural, and family support
- Help you understand your legal rights and entitlements
- Keep the person using violence in view and accountable
We’ll walk alongside you, listen to what you need, and support you to make informed choices toward safety, stability, and recovery.
Family Violence Outpost
Juno’s specialist family violence workers are also based at VincentCare’s Homelessness Access Point in Glenroy once a week. They provide immediate support to victim survivors and their children while working with housing workers to address family violence needs.
You may be eligible for financial assistance. Learn more about available family violence payments →
How to Receive Support
Juno provides free specialist family violence services in the Hume and Merri-Bek regions. We work with women, trans and gender diverse people and children, who have experienced any form of family violence. Support is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
To access support you can;
If we can’t provide support, or aren’t the right service for your needs, we can help you access another suitable family violence service.
To find other family violence services, you can:
- Search by postcode or suburb using Safe and Equal’s Find a Service directory, or
- Contact your local Orange Door, Victoria’s main intake point for family violence and family services
24-Hour Support
- Safe Steps (24-hour Family Violence Support): 1800 015 188
- Homelessness Services (24-hour Support): 1800 825 955
If you are in immediate danger, please call 000.
On alternative ways to contact us, including using an interpreter or the National Relay Service, visit our contact page →
Read our Commitment to Accessibility →
Juno acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
