‹ Safety & wellbeing
Safety & wellbeing

You deserve to be safe

In any family. At any age. Always.

Family violence and abuse happen in every kind of family, in every postcode, at every income level, at every age. None of it is your fault. None of it is what you deserve. There is help, and it is free.

It is not your fault

Nothing you have done, said, thought, worn or wanted makes abuse your fault. Abuse is always a choice made by the person doing it. If you are being told otherwise, you are being told a lie.

You can call, any time

What abuse can look like

Abuse is not only hitting. It can also include any of these, in any combination:

  • Physical — hitting, pushing, restraining, choking, denying food, medication or sleep
  • Emotional — constant criticism, humiliation, silent treatment, threats, intimidation
  • Coercive control — monitoring, isolating, rules, punishment, stalking
  • Financial — controlling the money, taking wages, running up debt in your name
  • Sexual — any sexual act you didn't freely choose, including inside a relationship
  • Technology-facilitated — tracking your phone, reading your messages, controlling your accounts
  • Spiritual or cultural — using faith, culture or family against you to control or isolate
  • Reproductive — controlling contraception, forcing or preventing pregnancy

If something on that list sounds like your life, you are not imagining it. Please call 1800RESPECT.

About using this app

If the person harming you has access to your phone, they may be able to see what you read in this app. Consider reading these pages on a friend's phone or a library computer. You can also delete the app when you are done.

See all 7 guides in Safety & wellbeing →

General information only — not a substitute for legal, medical, financial, or therapeutic advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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