On this page, we talk about how the law can protect you from domestic and family violence.

On this page:

• How the law can protect you
• What happens if the person ignores the protection order
• Checking if a protection order is right for you
• Getting a protection order

You have the right to be safe from domestic and family violence.

You can get a protection order to protect yourself from anyone who has used domestic and family violence against you.

Protection orders can help you be safe.

If you get a protection order against someone, they cannot do certain things.

For example, they cannot:

• hurt you
• contact you
• visit you, like at home or at work
• make you feel scared.

A protection order can also protect your:

• children
• friends
• family.

You can get protection orders against people of any gender.

It is okay to ask for a protection order.

You should not feel afraid to live your life.

Getting a protection order is not the same as saying someone has broken the law.

They will not get in trouble with the police.

But you can contact the police if the person does any of the things in the protection order.

The police will:

• help keep you safe
• arrest the person if they are breaking the law.

If it is safe, it can be a good idea to keep evidence of what the person has done to ignore the protection order.

This will help the police when they arrive.

For example, you can:

• write down details about what happened
• write down the names of people who saw them do the things in the protection order
• save any messages they sent you.

You can also take photos of what the person did.

For example, you can take photos of:

• your injuries if they hurt you
• items in the house that they broke.

A lot of people worry about what will happen if they ask for a protection order.

For example, they worry that the person who hurt them might:

• get angry
• try to hurt them again.

It is important to know that a protection order could make the person want to hurt you more.

You should talk to people you trust about whether a protection order could help you.

For example, your:

• friends
• family
• support workers.

It is a good idea to make a plan for how to keep yourself safe before you get a protection order.

To get a protection order, you can ask:

• the police
• a court
• a legal service.

You can contact Women’s Legal Service:

• for free legal advice
• to get a protection order.

You can visit the Women’s Legal Service website for more information.

You can also contact Legal Aid :

• for free legal advice
• to get a protection order.

You can visit the Legal Aid website for more information.

There are also many organisations that can give you support if you need it.

For example, support if are experiencing domestic and family violence.

You can find out more about these organisations on the 1800 RESPECT website.

You can get a protection order in any state and territory.

And it will work everywhere in Australia.

The way you get a protection order is different in every state and territory.

For example, you might need different documents depending on where you live.

Every state and territory calls a protection order something different.

In the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, they are called ‘Domestic Violence Orders’.

In New South Wales, they are called ‘Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders’.

In Queensland, they are called ‘Protection Orders’.

In Tasmania, they are called ‘Family Violence Orders’.

In Victoria and South Australia, they are called ‘Intervention Orders’.

In Western Australia, they are called ‘Family Violence Restraining Orders’.