I need immediate assistance for domestic violence
If you need immediate assistance for domestic violence, it is important to take urgent action to ensure your safety. Here are the steps you can take:
- Call the Police: If you are in immediate danger, dial 000 for emergency assistance. A police officer can provide immediate protection, including issuing a Police Protection Notice to remove the abuser from the home or take other necessary actions.
- Report the Abuse: If you haven’t already, and it is safe to do so, reporting the abusive behaviour, whether psychological, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, to authorities can help to protect you and begin legal action against the abuser.
- Seek a Family or Domestic Violence Protection Order: You can apply for a domestic violence protection order through the Magistrates Court to ensure your safety. If you need protection immediately, a temporary protection order can be issued. It is important to seek legal advice from a domestic violence lawyer to guide you through the process.
- Access Domestic Violence Support Services: There are support services available for people experiencing domestic violence, including emergency accommodation, counselling, and advocacy. These services can assist you in obtaining protection and understanding your legal options.
- Get Legal Representation: Contact a domestic violence lawyer for legal representation in any domestic violence proceedings or to provide support with any criminal hearings or family law-related matters. They can help you navigate the legal system, assist with your domestic violence application, and ensure you are protected through the appropriate legal channels.
Your safety is the top priority, so do not hesitate to seek immediate legal help and protection. A domestic violence lawyer can guide you through the process of securing your safety and ensuring that legal measures are taken against the abuser.
Can you help with urgent court matters?
Yes. If you’re facing immediate danger or need a temporary protection order, we can help you with applications, including obtaining police protection notices or initiating domestic violence proceedings to ensure your safety and protection from further harm.
Domestic violence is affecting our family; what are my legal options?
- Domestic violence protection orders to protect yourself or your children.
- Seeking legal advice from a domestic violence lawyer to explore your rights in family violence matters.
- Family violence support services to assist you through the legal process and help with immediate safety concerns.
- Parenting arrangements can be modified to ensure the children’s safety and wellbeing.
- Financial support and other protective measures in family court if needed.
I'm not sure if it's domestic violence, is it?
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, it’s vital to seek legal advice and support from domestic violence services as soon as possible to ensure safety and protection under the Domestic & Family Violence Protection Act.
Domestic violence refers to a range of violent or abusive behaviour in a relevant relationship, such as an intimate personal relationship, between family members or partners. It can include physical or sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, verbal abuse, and financial abuse (also known as economic abuse).
Some abuse can be very subtle, or hard to prove, and some abusers use tactics to make you doubt that abuse is happening. Coercive control covers a range of behaviours that are common themes in family and domestic violence, that are not as obvious as some forms of abuse.
If you’re experiencing abusive behaviour, including threats, coercion, or controlling behaviour, it may be considered domestic violence under Queensland law. If you’re unsure, seeking legal advice from a domestic violence lawyer can help clarify your situation.
What is coercive control?
Coercive control is a pattern of controlling, manipulative, and threatening behaviour aimed at dominating another person, often within an intimate relationship. It can include tactics like isolating the victim, monitoring their activities, controlling finances, or using threats to instil fear and maintain power over them. As of May 26th, 2025, coercive control will be a criminal offence in Queensland.
What is a police protection notice?
A police protection notice is a temporary order issued by a police officer to protect a person in an intimate personal relationship from immediate danger due to violent or abusive behaviour, including physical violence or psychological abuse.
It can be issued at the scene of a domestic violence incident to provide immediate protection before a domestic violence order is granted by the Magistrates Court. The notice can require the alleged abuser to leave the residence, stay away from the protected person, and refrain from further abuse.
What is a domestic violence protection order?
A domestic violence protection order is a court order designed to protect the aggrieved person (the person being abused) from violent or abusive behaviour. The order can include conditions such as prohibiting the alleged abuser from contacting, approaching, or residing with the protected person.
It can be imposed after a domestic violence application has been heard in the Magistrates Court, and it can also include conditions for court-ordered counselling for the abuser or other specific restrictions to protect the aggrieved person.
How do I make a domestic violence order application?
To make a domestic violence application in Queensland, you can apply for a domestic violence protection order through the Magistrates Court. This can be done by yourself or with the help of a family violence lawyer.
The application involves providing evidence of violent or abusive behaviour and demonstrating that you or your children are at risk of harm. If there is immediate danger, a temporary protection order may be issued first, pending the court hearing.
Do I have to attend the court date?
Yes, you will typically need to attend court if you are the aggrieved person seeking a domestic violence protection order. However, if you are unable to attend or feel unsafe, you may be able to have alternative arrangements made through your domestic violence lawyer or a support service. If a domestic violence case is brought against you, you should also attend court with the help of a defence lawyer. Missing court can affect the outcome of the case and your legal rights.
An order has been taken out against me, but I have not committed domestic violence; what should I do?
If a domestic violence protection order has been issued against you, and you have not committed any violent or abusive behaviour, it’s important to seek legal representation immediately. A defence lawyer can help you challenge the order or negotiate its terms.
It’s crucial to understand the consequences of breaching the order, as it is considered a criminal offence. Your lawyer can guide you through domestic violence proceedings and ensure that your side of the story is heard in the Magistrates Court.
How can a domestic and family violence lawyer help me?
A domestic and family violence lawyer can provide legal representation and legal advice in family violence matters. They can assist in applying for a domestic violence protection order, provide guidance on your legal rights as a protected person, and represent you in court proceedings.
They can also help you understand how criminal charges may apply in your domestic violence case, whether it involves sexual abuse, psychological abuse, physical violence, or financial abuse.
A lawyer can also support you in negotiating parenting arrangements if children are involved, and guide you through family court proceedings.