Mornington Peninsula Domestic Violence Service
Contact details
Phone 03 59719454
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.
If you need assistance outside these hours, call the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Line on 1800 015 188. http://www.wdvcs.org.au
If you are in immediate danger call 000.
If you need to leave this site quickly, click here
About the program
Mornington Peninsula Domestic Violence Service supports women and children experiencing domestic violence who live and/or work on the Mornington Peninsula. The team is staffed by experienced workers who can offer support over the phone or face to face in a safe and confidential environment. The program’s work is based on feminist principles and our support is guided by the woman’s choices. We will support your decisions, regardless of whether you choose to stay in the relationship or not.
Women from all walks of life experience violence and abuse from partners and family members. They do not ask for it, nor do they deserve it. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect and to live free from fear.
While it can be difficult and frightening to take action against domestic violence, seeking support, seeing your situation clearly and realising that you are stronger than you think, are the first steps towards a better, healthier life.
Research Report
Click here to download a copy of the recently published report Researching the Gaps: The needs of women who have experienced long-term domestic violence.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is more than just physical abuse, it also includes:
- Emotional abuse – such as insults, mind games and manipulation
- Isolation – stopping you from seeing your friends and family, or stopping you from getting a job or having a car.
- Keeping control of the finances
- Sexual abuse – pressuring you to do sexual acts you don’t want to do. Forcing you to have sex is a criminal offence, even if you are married.
- Threats to harm you or your children
- Damaging your property
- Harming pets
- Stalking or constantly checking your whereabouts
Safety Plan: This is a guide for making a safe plan for you and your children.
- Plan where you could go to be safe such as relatives, friends or a Women’s Refuge.
- Always try to take your children with you.
- Leave money, spare keys, medications and important papers together in a place where you can get them quickly.
- Make your own list of personal papers you need to take with you, this may include driver’s license, passports, Medicare and Centrelink cards, Family Court orders, Intervention orders, etc.
- Inform yourself of Domestic Violence agencies who can support you and keep their telephone number in a safe place.
- Discuss a safety plan with your children for when you are not with them.
- Inform your children’s school, day care, etc. about who has permission to collect the children.
- If you do leave you can request police to accompany you back to the house to retrieve your personal possessions. Do not put your safety at risk to retrieve property or possessions.
More information and support
Children: Family Violence Hurts Kids Too: Information for mothers and other people concerned about children who witness family violence http://www.dvrcv.org.au/HelpHub/FVKids.htm
Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service: IWDVS gives voice and provides culturally sensitive services to meet the needs of women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds affected by domestic violence. http://www.iwdvs.org.au/
Elizabeth Hoffman House – for Aboriginal women: EHH provides emergency accommodation and supports for Aboriginal women in crisis. The outreach service assists women to access services in relation to domestic violence. EHH is launching a new website. Until then, please call 0438 528 525 if you need support.
A Guide for Women with Disabilities (DVRC): This guide helps you to identify the warning signs of abuse by a partner, a family member, a carer, or someone else. It tells you about abuse or domestic or family violence, how it can affect youand what you can do if someone is hurting you. http://www.dvrcv.org.au/Disability/DisabilityIndex.htm
Domestic Violence Victoria Inc: DV Vic is a value driven peak advocacy organization committed to the rights of women and children to live free of violence. It comprises a membership of Women's family/domestic violence services operating across the state of Victoria at http://www.dvvic.org.au/
Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria: DVRC aims to reduce and prevent family violence by providing education to improve service and policy responses, and by assisting people who have experienced abuse at www.dvrcv.org.au
Bursting the Bubble - www.burstingthebubble.com
HURT project - www.hurt.net.au
| 
Circus Pie 2008 
