Contacts and resources

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Call 000 in an emergency or if you or someone else is in immediate danger. 

Asking for help is never easy, but there are services and resources available to help. Whether you need support personally, for your family or for a loved one, we're here to help connect you to specialised professionals.

Explore the list below for more information.

Quick resources

  • 1800 RESPECT: call 1800 737 732 to speak with a trained counsellor who will work with you to find support and services that are right for you and your situation.    
  • Nexus Primary Health: call 1300 773 352 to access a comprehensive range of services to support you to live well in your community.
  • Lifeline: call 13 11 14 at any time to access crisis support and suicide prevention services.
  • Djirra Aboriginal Women Support Service: call 1800 105 303 to access a culturally safe place where culture is celebrated and practical support is available.
  • Mensline Australia: call 1300 789 978 any time for professional telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationship, stress and wellbeing.
  • Are You Safe at Home?: is an online service with a variety of support resources to help individuals identify and better understand family violence.

Refer to pages 8 to 14 of the Community Resource Guide to Family Violence for a comprehensive list of specific support services, or visit our Mental Health Services page for more resources.


The Orange Door (Goulburn)

The Orange Door is a way for women, children and young people who are experiencing family violence or families who need assistance with the care and wellbeing of children to access the services they need to be safe and supported. 

The Orange Door also works with people who use violence to help them change their behaviour. This is a free service. The Orange Door Goulburn provides services to people living in Moira, Greater Shepparton, Strathbogie, Mitchell and Murrindindi Shires. 

Get in touch with the Orange Door between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday, by calling 1800 634 245 or emailing goulburn@orangedoor.vic.gov.au

For after-hours support, call Safe Steps on 1800 015 188.

If you have been threatened or you are fearful for yourself, a child or family members, please call 000 Emergency or Police.  

Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre

Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre is Victoria’s state-wide first response service for women, young people and children experiencing family violence. The safe steps 24/7 response phone line connects callers with specialist support workers who can help them explore their options, develop a safety plan, access to support services and provide emergency accommodation. 

Safe Steps operates at all hours, every day of the year. If you need support, contact them by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing safesteps@safesteps.org.au

Community Resources Guide to Family Violence

Murrindindi and Mitchell Shire Council's have collaborated to develop a Community Resource Guide to Family Violence.

The guide pulls together information about what family is, what the risk factors and warning signs look like, how to (and how not to) navigate conversations about family violence as well as a comprehensive list of support services available for both Shires as well as National support services. Visit our Community Resource Guide to Family Violence page to download the guide or learn more.

Free from Violence Local Government Program

The Free from Violence Local Government Program (FFVLGP) supports councils to embed gender equality and family violence prevention practices into their work and the programs and services they deliver. Murrindindi Shire Council was one of 15 Councils to be awarded funding under the 2022-25 program.

The FFVLGP has supported Murrindindi Shire Council to deliver the following resources and initiatives: 

  • Internal capacity building awareness raising through attitudinal surveys; mandatory staff training and internal working groups.
  • Newspaper pieces and radio segment (‘A Little Respect’) which creates space for conversations in our community about important topics related to relationships, gender equality and family violence prevention.
  • Community events like Let's Talk: A Space for Men, to bring together men (and others) to destigmatise conversations about social pressures to conform to the ‘man box’ and how to move beyond entrenched ideas about gender to create a community free from violence for everyone.
  • Community Resource Guide to Family Violence, which helps us all understand what family violence is, what to look out for, how to sensitively respond when someone discloses they are experiencing family violence, and a comprehensive list of resources and support services available to our community.
  • Free From Violence Activity cards, that make understanding concepts related to gender equality and family violence easier to understand and engage with. Order your own deck of FFV activity cards
  • Council supports the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, that commences on 25 November and concludes on 10 December each year. The campaign encourages individuals and organisations to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.