Maitland based Domestic Abuse & Domestic Violence Services
Maitland based Domestic Abuse & Domestic Violence Services
Emergency
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT
There is a 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide can call 13 11 14, or text 0477 13 11 14 at night (6pm-midnight AEDT). Someone will help put you in contact with a crisis service in your state or territory.
Free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25 in Australia. Individuals can also access local support services and search the internet using Daisy, a free app developed by 1800RESPECT that protects user privacy.
Local Supports
Carrie’s Place mission aims to increase the number of families in the Maitland and Lower Hunter area, who are housed, safe, and living free from abuse.
Carrie’s Place provides a range of culturally appropriate programs for people experiencing domestic and family violence, and/or homelessness. Carrie’s Place employs highly qualified workers, with specialist skills, who provide case management, group work and court advocacy, to assist people to move forward with their lives with independence, safety, and security.
Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services is an incorporated not for profit organisation providing community services in the Port Stephens LGA.
We offer support and information services that include Child, Youth & Family Counselling and Casework, Homelessness Services, advice on Crisis Accommodation, Transitional Accommodation (limited), Parent’s & Carer’s Groups, Children’s and Young People’s Groups, Domestic Violence Support, Safe Houses & Legal Clinics, Aboriginal Culture Groups, Early Childhood Programs including Playtime Groups, Aboriginal Family History and Outreach Programs, Drop-in Centre, Financial Assistance, Financial Counsellor, Home to School Mentoring, Youth Centre and more. All our services are free.
We provide homes and services to more than 9,000 customers across New South Wales. We believe that having a safe, secure and affordable home is a human right and an important first step to building a stable and prosperous future.
We take a ‘housing-first’ approach, providing safe, secure and sustainable housing in the first instance. We work with our customers to determine their housing options and support them to secure and maintain their rental tenancy. We build connected and vibrant communities by:
- Developing and providing a wide range of high-quality housing solutions.
- Designing and delivering sector leading services
Strength in Support
Got Your Back Sista is a registered charity dedicated to providing relief and support to women and children who have escaped the trauma of domestic violence.
We support those escaping domestic violence by providing:
- Furniture and household items to setup a safe home
- Courses and programs to rebuild physical and emotional well-being
- Pathways to education and employment
Mindaribba is a social, health and learning hub for our Aboriginal community.
Warlga Ngurra Women and Children’s Refuge is a Specialist Homelessness Service offering emergency accommodation and support for women, with or without children, who are homeless due to domestic violence. We also offer court support, children’s activities, outreach support, advocacy, housing support, child support and referrals.
Maitland Family Support Inc is an early intervention not-for-profit community organisation that has supported families in the Maitland LGA and the suburbs of Beresfield and Tarro since 1982.
We recognise that parenting and caring can be challenging at times and that families may want extra support. We work with families who are expecting a baby or already have children to improve their circumstances and capacity to parent through engagement in parenting programs, playgroups, social groups, home and centre-based visits, advocacy, case management, and information and referrals.
Monday - Thursday (9am-3pm)
Emotional Supports
Confidential information, counselling and support service
1800RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Full Stop Australia
Full Stop Australia is here to put a full stop to sexual, domestic or family violence through support, education, and advocacy.
We are a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. We aim to support all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships.
The 1800 011 511 Mental Health Line is NSW Health's 24/7 statewide phone service which links people with NSW Health mental health services. It is a free service.
NSW Sexual Violence Helpline
Housing
We provide homes and services to more than 9,000 customers across New South Wales. We believe that having a safe, secure and affordable home is a human right and an important first step to building a stable and prosperous future.
We take a ‘housing-first’ approach, providing safe, secure and sustainable housing in the first instance. We work with our customers to determine their housing options and support them to secure and maintain their rental tenancy. We build connected and vibrant communities by:
- Developing and providing a wide range of high-quality housing solutions.
- Designing and delivering sector leading services
Tenants in circumstances of domestic violence are now able to end their tenancy by serving a termination notice, with relevant evidence, and vacating – see Domestic Violence – Ending your tenancy under the Residential Tenancies Act DV provisions and Factsheet 12: Domestic violence.
You must attach ONE of the following to this notice to give it to the landlord, or their agent. You do not have to attach this evidence to the notice/s you give to any other co-tenants.
- a copy of the certificate of conviction for the domestic violence offence against you or your dependent child, OR
- a copy of a current Domestic Violence Order protecting you or your dependent child (need not be a final order), OR
- a copy of a current injunction granted under section 68B or 114 of the Family Law Act 1975 protecting you or your dependent child, OR
- a declaration made by a competent person in the required form, that you or your dependent child are a victim of domestic violence. The form is in Schedule 3 of the Regulations as well as on Fair Trading's website
Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (HTAAS)
Free telephone advice, information, advocacy, and (where appropriate) representation at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
Who we can assist: people renting privately through a landlord or Real Estate Agent, tenants in Public and Community housing, tenants renting Caravan Parks, homeowners in Land Lease Communities and residents of Boarding Houses. Our services are available to renters in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook or the Great Lakes areas of Mid Coast Local Government Area.
Home in PLACE
Home in Place is a global leader in the delivery of social housing and the fight against housing poverty.
Link2home
Link2home is the statewide homelessness information and referral telephone service. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
For information, assessment or referral to homelessness services and support in NSW, call Link2home Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463.
Through our Domestic Violence program, RSPCA NSW aims to offer practical solutions for pet owners leaving situations of domestic violence. We safely house and care for their pets, allowing them time to find a safe refuge for themselves, with the aim of reuniting them with their beloved pet as soon as possible.
Services of our Domestic Violence program include:
- temporary foster accommodation and/or emergency pet boarding
- financial assistance for veterinary treatment
- financial assistance with impound fees
- financial assistance with transport fees
This community program was previously known as Safe Beds for Pets.
For more information, please get in touch with the RSPCA Community Programs helpline at (02) 9782 4408 or send us an email enquiry using the form below.
Legal Supports
The Hunter Community Legal Centre (CLC) provides free legal advice to people who live, work or study in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Great Lakes and Hunter Valley regions.
For legal advice and information phone
The Hunter CLC provides Free Legal Advice by Phone and face to face advice at various outreach locations in the Hunter region, as well as Family Law advice through our Family Law programs.
Promoting the health and well-being of women in the Hunter Valley.
Fighting for social justice and equity for our people, families and communities.
Combines free legal advice and support at court for people affected by domestic and family violence.
The Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) is a specialist state-wide team of lawyers, domestic violence case workers, mental health workers and financial counsellors who work together to help clients who have experienced domestic and family violence with their legal and other needs.
Seniors Rights Service offers free legal advice on many legal issues to older people in NSW, as well as a comprehensive referral service. We offer general legal advice, as well as advice on retirement villages and strata living.
Financial Supports
A one-off non-taxable payment if you’ve experienced an extreme circumstance and are in severe financial hardship.
There are different types of Crisis Payments for different extreme circumstances.
We consider an extreme circumstance to be one of the following:
- you experienced an incident of family and domestic violence that forced you to leave your home
- you stayed in your home after experiencing domestic violence and the family member responsible left or was removed from the home
- you had to leave your home because of a natural or other disaster not covered by a disaster relief payment
- you arrived in Australia as a humanitarian entrant for the first time
- you were in prison or psychiatric confinement for a period of at least 14 days.
Family and domestic violence - information, referrals and support for people affected by family and domestic violence.
Financial Counselling Hunter Valley Project has been providing a free financial counselling service to the Upper and Lower Hunter for the past 30 years. Our team of experienced financial counsellors are qualified and accredited members of the Financial Counselling Association of NSW & Financial Counselling Australia.
We provide a non-judgmental, empathetic & client centred approach to our work. We assist with referrals, exploring options to manage debt, developing budget skills & provide advocacy with creditors & other appropriate agencies. We are funded by the Office of Fair Trading NSW & Department of Community & Justice.