Get help

1. Call the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817.
2. Tell them the person’s name, phone number and spoken language.

The Victims of Crime Helpline will organise for an interpreter to call.

This is a free service.

When the interpreter calls, it may display as a 'private number', 'blocked' or 'no caller id' on mobile phones.

If you are deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service:

• TTY users phone 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 819 817
• Speak and Listen users phone 1800 555 727 then ask for 1800 819 817
• Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 1800 819 817
• Video relay users choose the available NRS video relay contact on Skype and ask for 1800 819 817
• SMS relay users phone 0423 677 767 and ask for 1800 819 817.

You can learn more about how to report a crime on this website.

Victoria Police

There are a number of ways you can report a crime to Victoria Police.

If anyone is in immediate danger or a crime is currently occurring, please call police on Triple Zero (000).

For non-urgent and less serious crimes, you can:

• call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444
• call or go to your local police station
• use Victoria Police’s online reporting tool.

If you wish, for situations that are not urgent, you can request to speak to:

An Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer (ACLO) or Police Aboriginal Liaison Officer (PALO), who:

• are available around the state by contacting your local police station
• assist communication and build relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities and the police

A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex Liaison Officer (GLLO), who:

• are available around the state
• provide discrete, non-judgemental advice and assistance about reporting a crime as well as information about support services available for LGTBI communities.

Call: (03) 9247 6944 during business hours
Email: Melbourne.gllo@police.vic.gov.au

Crime Stoppers

Confidentially report a crime by calling Crime Stoppers or reporting online.

Call: 1800 333 000
Website: crimestoppersvic.com.au

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner

Australian Government agency committed to helping all Australians have safe, positive experiences online. You can report image-based abuse or offensive or illegal content on their website.

Website: esafety.gov.au

IDCARE

Australia and New Zealand’s national identity & cyber support service. You can report identify theft and relationship scams on their website.

Open: 8am–5pm, Monday to Friday
Call: 1800 595 160
Website: idcare.org

Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASCS)

The Australian Cyber Security Centre is the Australian Federal Government initiative for improving cyber security. You can use their ReportCyber online tool to report cyber crime (online crime). It can refer your report to the most relevant law enforcement or government agencies for investigation.

You can use ReportCyber to report types of crime such as:

• identify theft
• online scams – such as dating and romance scams, threats or extortion for money
• attacks or hacking of computer systems.

Website: cyber.gov.au

Consumer Affairs Victoria

If you are dealing with a dispute regarding products, services, housing and car sales, Consumer Affairs Victoria has extensive information about your rights as a consumer in Victoria.

You can view their Who to go for help page for information on who to contact to make a complaint.

Website: consumer.vic.gov.au

Victorian Child Protection Service (Department of Health and Human Services)

You should make a report to Child Protection if you are concerned that a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect, and that their parent has not protected, is unable to protect or is unlikely to protect the child from harm of that type.

Business hours (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday)

Contact the child protection intake service in your area

After hours (weeknights 5pm–9pm, and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays)

Contact the After hours Child Protection Emergency Service on 13 12 78.

The Orange Door

If you have significant concern for the wellbeing of a child, but do not believe they are at risk of significant harm, and where the immediate safety of the child will not be compromised, you can report to The Orange Door.

These services can link children to services that can help. For a contact phone number in your area, visit The Orange Door website.

Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria (OPP)

The Office of Public Prosecutions is Victoria’s public prosecution service. They prepare and present court matters against people accused of serious crime.

565 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne, Victoria

Call: (03) 9603 7666
Website: opp.vic.gov.au

Victims and Witness Assistance Service (VWAS)

The OPP’s Victims and Witness Assistance Service is available on the ground floor of their building.

565 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne, Victoria

Call: (03) 96037425 or 1800 641 927 (toll free) 9am–5pm
Website: victimsandwitnesses.opp.vic.gov.au

Corrections Victoria

Corrections Victoria is responsible for offenders in prison and on community corrections orders.

Website: corrections.vic.gov.au

Adult Parole Board Victoria

The Adult Parole Board is responsible for making decisions about parole for adult offenders in the Victoria.

Website: adultparoleboard.vic.gov.au

Post Sentence Authority

The Post Sentence Authority oversees the post sentence scheme in Victoria and monitors serious offenders on post sentence orders.

Website: postsentenceauthority.vic.gov.au

Sentencing Advisory Council

The Sentencing Advisory Council provides research, statistics and education about sentencing in Victoria.

Website: sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au

Victims of Crime Commissioner

The Victims of Crime Commissioner aims to improve services and systems in government departments, victims service providers and the justice system to meet the needs of victims of crime.

Call: 1800 010 017
Website: victimsofcrimecommissioner.vic.gov.au

Youth Justice Service – Department of Justice and Community Safety

The Youth Justice Service is responsible for the supervision of young people in the criminal justice system.

Website: justice.vic.gov.au/justice-system/youth-justice

Lifeline

24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Open: 24 hours, every day
Call: 13 11 14
Website: lifeline.org.au

1800RESPECT

The national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service offering a phone and online chat service.

Open: 24 hours, every day
Call: 1800 737 732
Website: 1800respect.org.au

Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE)

Free support, referral and information for all Victorian women, nonbinary and gender-diverse people on any issue.

Open: 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday
Call: 1300 134 130
Website: wire.org.au

Mensline Australia

Telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns.

Open: 24 hours, every day
Call: 1300 789 978
Website: mensline.org.au

Kids Helpline

24-hour phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

Open: 24 hours, every day
Call: 1800 55 1800
Website: kidshelpline.com.au

Switchboard

Switchboard is a volunteer organisation which provides a free, confidential and anonymous telephone counselling, referral and information service for Victorian bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) people and their supporters.

Switchboard partners with QLife to provide a phone and webchat service.

Open: 3pm–midnight, every day
Call: 1800 184 527
Website: switchboard.org.au or qlife.org.au

Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women's Service

Elizabeth Morgan House provides a range of support to Aboriginal women and children experiencing family violence from crisis through to recovery program.

Open:
9am–5pm, Monday to Thursday
9am–4pm, Friday
Call: (03) 9482 5744
Website: emhaws.org.au

VACCA – Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency

An Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation that services children, young people and families with a range of services including family violence, children’s services, housing and homelessness.

Call: (03) 9287 8800
Website: vacca.org

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

Legal advice and representation for the Koorie community.

Call: 1800 064 865
Website: vals.org.au

Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service (Djirra)

A legal service that supports Aboriginal people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence (women and men). They can also assist non-Aboriginal people experiencing family violence who are parents of Aboriginal children.

Open: 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday
Call: 1800 105 303
Website: djirra.org.au

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)

Provides a comprehensive range of medical, dental and social services as well as community programs for Victorian indigenous communities.

Open:
9am–5pm, Monday to Thursday
9am–4pm, Friday
Call:
03 9419 3000 (VAHS Fitzroy)
03 9403 3300 (VAHS Preston)
03 8592 3920 (VAHS Epping)
Website: vahs.org.au

Office of the Public Advocate

The Office of Public Advocate (OPA) works to safeguard the rights and interests of people with disability.

It provides:

• an advice service for people with disability and their family, carers and friends
• the Community Visitor program who can visit disability accommodation services, supported residential services and mental health facilities to ensure residents and patients are being cared for appropriately.

Open: 9am–4.45pm, Monday to Friday
Call: 1300 309 337
Website: publicadvocate.vic.gov.au

Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Centre

Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service is a free, Victoria-wide community legal centre that works exclusively with disability related legal issues. The service has a particular focus on issues which affect people with an intellectual disability.

Call: 03 5227 338 (general calls) or 1800 014 111 (telephone advice service)
Website: villamanta.org.au

Mental Health Legal Centre

The Mental Health Legal Centre provides a free and confidential legal service to anyone who has experienced mental illness in Victoria where their legal problem relates to their mental illness.

Legal advice telephone line
Open: 6pm–8pm, Tuesday and Thursday evenings
Call: (03) 9629 4422 (metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 887 (free call from rural Victoria)
Website: mhlc.org.au

Seniors Rights Victoria

Seniors Rights Victoria provides information, support, advice and education to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older people.

Call: 1300 368 821
Website: seniorsrights.org.au