Making a safety plan

Safety planning is something you can do to be safer when living with violence or abuse.

You can make a simple safety plan with help from a friend or family member, but you don’t have to do this alone. A support service such as 1800 RESPECT can help you make a detailed safety plan. You can call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732 - 24/7.

Find a local support service near you.

What to include in your plan

You may already have good ideas about what you can do when you feel unsafe. Start your safety plan by thinking about where and how you can get help if you need it.

You can write these ideas down and keep your plan where no one else will see it. You might choose to share it with a friend or support person.

The following suggestions are examples of what you can include in your safety plan.

Safety at home

Read more about staying safe at home.

Emergency contacts

• Make a list of emergency phone numbers. This list could include the phone numbers for the police, a trusted family member, friend, neighbour or advocate.
• Decide who to call if you feel threatened or in danger. You could ask one of these contacts to call the police on 000 if they hear violence or abuse in the background of your call.
• Contact trusted family and friends and set up a code word you can say or text them if you need them to call 000 on your behalf.
• Keep essential items with someone you can trust. If you have children, pack essential items for them also. This might include clothing, medications, documents such as birth certificates, keys, and money.
• If possible, keep a spare phone with prepaid credit and your list of emergency phone numbers so you can contact people without being monitored. DFV support services may be able to help you with this.

Emergency accommodation if you need to leave in a hurry

• Decide on a safe place to go if you need to leave in a hurry and practice travelling to that location. If you have children, have a safety plan for them, including a safe place they can go if you are unable to get away. This may include a room in the house the children can lock themselves in or going to a trusted neighbour’s house if they’re feeling unsafe.
• If possible, save some money for a taxi, bus, or train for emergency transport to a safe place.
• Keep extra keys to your house and car in a safe place .
• Pack an escape bag in case you need to leave quickly. If you have children, pack a bag for them too.

Using technology safely

• Download any apps to your mobile phone to connect to local services. Some examples include:
  • Daisy App by 1800 RESPECT.
  • Sunny App by 1800RESPECT: A DFV support app for people with disability.
• Take steps to protect your personal information and online security. Find out how to secure your accounts and devices. The eSafety Commissioner has resources to empower women to take control online.
• Having conversations with children and young people about online safety is important. If you’re concerned about the online safety of a child or young person or want to know how to discuss online safety, the following resources may help:
  • eSafety Supporting children experiencing domestic and family violence
  • eSafety Keeping your family safe

Looking after pets

• Decide on arrangements for your pets if you need to leave and they are at risk of harm. Pets in Crisis provides temporary care of animals with trained, volunteer foster carers.

Safety after leaving

Read more about increasing your safety if planning to leave a harmful relationship.

Keeping your home secure

• If you can, find ways to increase security at home, like outdoor lights, extra window or door locks, or gates.
• If possible, park your car on the street instead of in the driveway so you can't be blocked in and can easily leave.

Protecting your personal information

• Consider changing your mobile phone number and setting 'private'. Use email if you need to stay in contact with the person using violence. This is also an easy way to keep a record of your conversations.
• Consider changing passwords of online accounts including your bank account, utilities and myGov.
• Consider getting a PO Box if the person using violence has or could get access to your home or letterbox.

Your personal safety

• If you see the person using violence, move to a public or busy place as soon as possible.
• After leaving, try to change your normal routines. This could be catching different trains or buses, leaving home or work at different hours, or shopping in different places.
• Talk to a support service or the police about getting a Domestic Violence Order if you don’t already have one. Find out how to get protection from the court.
• Tell your employer of any protection orders that prevent the person using violence from coming near your work. Keep a copy of your order at work or in your bag. Learn more about supporting someone in the workplace.
• If you have children, tell their school of any domestic violence protection orders that are in place. Advise your children who they can talk to and where they can go if they’re feeling unsafe at school.

Getting help

You do not have to do all of this alone. There are people and services to help you:

• Call DVConnect Womensline to seek support on 1800 811 811
• Call the police on 000 if you are in immediate danger
• Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for information, advice and help with safety planning.
• Find a local support service near you.