The Police  ,  Women's Refuges  ,  Health services
Family Support and Medium Term Counselling
Family and Children’s Services
Sexual Assault Resource Centre
Men's Domestic Violence Helpline
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Services
Gay and Lesbian Counseling Services

The Police
If you are suffering abuse you can contact the Police by telephoning your local Police Station on 131 444, or Police Headquarters on 9222 1111. In an emergency situation you should call 000 and ask for the Police.

In either case a Police Officer will be dispatched to your address. A report and record of your complaint will be made, and Police will want to lay charges of assault against the offender, providing there is sufficient evidence to prove who the offender is. This evidence can be obtained at the scene in the form of visual evidence, ie. marks and bruises to the victim and/or damage to the room. They will also need to obtain a statement from you about what happened and who assaulted you. If you have physical injuries they will request that you go to a doctor or hospital to have the injuries medically examined and to enable a medical report to be submitted by the doctor as further evidence of the assault.

On occasions it is difficult for the police to make an arrest when some or all of the above evidence is missing or not forthcoming and this can include an admission by the offender.

Providing the police gather all the evidence at the time, take your complaint and record it, then proceeding with matters of assault can occur at a later time. The offender does not have to be arrested and charged that night if you do not wish this to occur. A Restraining Order can be taken out at the time of Police attendance if there is a likelihood of further violence when the police have departed.

The Fremantle Domestic Violence Liaison Officer is available to provide help, support and assistance in all matters of domestic violence.
Phone 9336 9919 Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.

Refuges
Women's Refuges in WA provide safe accommodation for women and children leaving domestic violence relationships. Leaving a violent home is a difficult and traumatic experience for women and their children. Refuges are staffed by experienced workers who are available to talk through all the issues facing women and children.

Refuges assist families by providing secure accommodation, and support and information. You do not necessarily have to stay in a Refuge to receive advice and assistance from staff. They can help to obtain independent accommodation, emergency relief, counselling, advocacy and referral regarding legal, medical and any other help that you may require. Information given to Refuge workers is confidential and no one is told who is at a Refuge unless the woman has given instructions for a worker to do so.

There are Refuges that accommodate women with dependent children, and also Refuges that assist women without children. To access these Refuges you may call Crisis Care on 1800 199 008 or 9223 1111 or the Salvo Care Line 9227 8655, 24 hours a day.

Health Services
You can seek help from your local health service, which can provide accident and emergency services; community health services; counselling and social workers; nurse practitioners; and health interpreting services. Nurses are often the first person, outside of the person's family to know that domestic violence is occurring. Community Nurses work in a variety of settings, including Community Health Centres, Child Health Centres and schools. Nurses can help by offering knowledge of local resources and helping the victim to access services when she's ready to move to a change of circumstances. All health services are provided in a sensitive and culturally appropriate manner. You can also seek help from your local General Practitioner.

Family Support and Medium Term Counselling
Family Support Services generally provide a free or low cost, counselling and support service. All information provided is confidential. Support services also provide information referral and advocacy services for clients. The main areas that support is usually provided in are housing, assistance in gaining an income from Centrelink, employment, education or training issues, depression, parenting, relationships, referral for group work, referral for legal advice, and referral for health issues. In general support agencies will try to assist the person in whatever areas that they require.

Family and Children’s Services
Family and Children's Services provide direct assistance in addition to funding a range of non-government organisations across WA to provide services including support and counselling as well as women's refuges. Family and Children's Services provide counselling and information, through the Crisis Care Line 1800 199 008, or 9223 1111, or through the Family Helpline 1800 643 000 or 9221 2000, or through the district offices. Counselling is also supplied through the Family Court Counselling Service 1800 199 228 or 9224 8248. Family and Children's Services can also provide referral to crisis accommodation or alternative arrangements if no crisis accommodation is available; help with transport to obtain safety; and material assistance such as loans for whitegoods, furniture removal or telephone connections.

Sexual Assault Resource Centre
The Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) offers assistance to any person, female or male, 13 years and over, who has experienced any form of sexual assault or abuse, whether it be recent or in the past. SARC provides both counselling and medical services, including treatment for injuries and preventative measures for possible pregnancy or sexually transmittable diseases. The centre is staffed by a team of female counsellors, doctors, social workers and clinical psychologists. The service is free and confidential. Call 9340 1828

Men's Domestic Violence Helpline
The Men's Domestic Violence Helpline is available for abusive men who wish to seek help. Men can talk anonymously to trained professionals who will listen and give some options. Call 1800 000 599 or 9223 1199, 24 hours a day. The Helpline offers information, referral and telephone counselling from people who are specially trained in talking to men about domestic violence.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Services
One of the greatest myths about domestic violence is that it only affects some women in some parts of the community. This is not true. Domestic violence affects women of all cultures, and from all socio-economic backgrounds. Women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, can also be victims of domestic violence and encounter many barriers to accessing information and services that provide appropriate help. These barriers include a lack of English language, both verbal and written, a lack of culturally appropriate services, limited access to childcare, and access to transport.

There are a number of services for CALD women in the Fremantle region that may be of help. The Women's Refuges Multicultural Service provides one to one outreach support for women. This includes attending court and women's refuges. They also provide a legal advice service. Ph: 9325 7716

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) is also available 24 hours a day for women in a crisis. If a woman calls in a crisis she needs only to state the language which she needs to speak in and the service will contact an interpreter. This may take a few minutes. Ph: 131 450

The Fremantle Migrant Resource Centre, 241-243 High Street Fremantle offers counselling and outreach support for CALD women by appointment. Ph: 9335 9588

Gay and Lesbian Counselling Services
Domestic violence can occur in any relationship, including gay and lesbian relationships. Counselling and support is available at the Gay and Lesbian Counseling Service of WA Inc. on 9328 9044. The Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service affirms the right of all individuals to recognise and accept their own sexuality.

For a full list of telephone numbers see the contact page