On this page, we talk about using legal support after you have experienced
Violence or abuse is when someone:
- hurts you
- scares you
- controls you.
How legal support can help you
You might need legal support if you have experienced violence or abuse.
For example, you might need support from a if you have to go to court.
A lawyer is someone who knows and understands the law.
Legal support can also help you understand
Family court is a place where a judge makes legal decisions for families and children.
You can find out more on our page about family court.
Legal support can help you get a
A protection order is a legal document that helps protect you from domestic and family violence.
You can find out more on our page about how the law can protect you from domestic and family violence.
Legal support can help you understand
Child protection helps children stay safe.
The government runs child protection.
Child protection can decide if a child:
- is not safe in their home
- must live with someone else.
You can find out more on our page about child protection.
Where you can get legal support
Legal support can cost a lot of money.
But there is free support available for people who need it.
For example, people who do not have much money.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid can offer free legal support to people who need it.
This includes:
- legal information and advice
- a lawyer to help you at court.
Support in the community
You can get legal support from community legal centres.
They can provide free legal information and advice. in your community.
You can visit the Community Legal Centres Australia website to find out more.
Support for families
Family Advocacy and Support Services are
An advocate is someone who can:
- support people with disability
- help people with disability have their say
- give information and advice.
They can support people who have experienced
Domestic and family violence is when someone close to you hurts you, such as:
- your partner, like your boyfriend or girlfriend
- a member of your family
- someone who takes care of you
- someone you live with.
They can also provide:
- legal information and advice
- a lawyer to help you at court.
You can visit the Family Advocacy and Support Services website to find out more.
Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can use free legal support from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS).
Each state and territory has ATSILS:
- New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Aboriginal Legal service
- Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service Queensland
- Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia
- Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement South Australia
- Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service
- North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.
National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services can also support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
They can support people who have experienced:
- domestic and family violence
-
Sexual violence or abuse is when someone:
- makes you do sexual things you do not want to do
- does something sexual to you that you do not want them to do.
You can visit the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services website to find out more.
Your rights when you use legal support
You have when you use legal support.
Rights are rules about how people must treat you:
- fairly
- equally.
You have the right to ask for:
- extra time with the legal support service
- information printed out, like their advice for you
-
a place to meet that is
When something is accessible, it is easy to:
- find and use
- move around.
You also have the right to ask for a:
- female lawyer
- lawyer who understands your experience
- support person to join you, like an advocate.
Ways to take care of yourself
Getting legal support can be stressful.
It is important to take care of your wellbeing.
You can find out more on our page about caring for yourself.
You can get support from your family and friends.
You can also get support through
Counselling is when you work with someone to explore how you think and feel.
This can help you:
- reach goals
- feel safe
- learn skills
- understand what happened to you.
You can find out more on our page about counselling.
You can also get support from a helpline.
Helplines are phone numbers that will connect you to people who:
- care about what you are going through
- can give you good advice.
We have a list of helplines on our website.
You can find out more on our page about helplines.
You can also contact 1800RESPECT for support and counselling.
You can call them.
1800 737 732
You can talk to someone online.
You can send them a text message.
0458 737 732
If you send them a text message, you can just send the word ‘HELLO’.
