What legal support is available for visa holders experiencing family violence in Australia in 2026?
Outlines the support available to visa holders experiencing family violence in Australia in 2026, including 000, 1800RESPECT and free interpreters.
Support is available to you regardless of your visa status, and you do not have to stay in a relationship where you fear for your or your family's safety in order to remain in Australia. That is the position stated on the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page Domestic and family violence and your visa, which this article reflects as at October 2026. The same page describes family violence as a crime in Australia and points readers to three channels: 000 for immediate danger, 1800RESPECT for free and confidential counselling and information, and the Translating and Interpreting Service for a free interpreter.
This article is general information about how those supports are described officially. It is not advice on your individual circumstances, and your situation may turn on details this page does not cover — rely on the Department's current official wording, or get advice from a qualified professional, before you act.
Is family violence a crime in Australia?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs states plainly that domestic and family violence is a crime in Australia and is not acceptable under any circumstance. That framing matters for visa holders, because the question of whether to seek help is not treated as an immigration question first — it is treated as a safety question.
The same page also says the Department can support victims of domestic and family violence by helping them with their visa status. It does not set out the visa rules themselves; what it establishes is that help-seeking is not conditional on holding a particular visa.
What counts as domestic and family violence?
The official page uses a broad definition. Domestic and family violence is any conduct that makes you fear for your or your family's safety and wellbeing. It may be directed at you, your family, pets or property.
Two things follow from that wording. The conduct does not have to take one particular form to be taken seriously, and the fear assessed is yours — for yourself or for your family. The page adds that, no matter what the violence looks like, you have the right to a safe environment in Australia.
Which number should you call: 000 or 1800RESPECT?
The two numbers do different jobs, and the Department's page separates them.
| Situation | Number | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| You are in immediate danger | 000 | Emergency response |
| You want to talk something through | 1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732 | Free, confidential counselling and information |
Call 000 if you are in immediate danger. For free, confidential counselling and information, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, or visit the 1800RESPECT website. The description "free" and "confidential" comes directly from the Department's wording; if confidentiality is your main worry, that is the line the official page identifies for it.
Can you get help if English is not your first language?
Yes, in two ways. The information itself is available in other languages — the Department directs readers to use the 'select language' option at the top of each page. And if you need to speak to someone in your own language, you can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 for a free interpreter.
The interpreter service is separate from the counselling line. One useful sequence, if you want to use both:
- Call TIS National on 131 450.
- Ask for an interpreter in your language.
- Ask the interpreter to connect you to 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Does your visa status affect whether you can get help?
No. The Department states that support is available regardless of your visa status. It also states directly that you and your family do not have to remain in a relationship where you fear for your or your family's safety to stay in Australia.
Suppose a person holding a temporary visa is afraid to call anyone because they believe doing so will put their visa at risk. On the official wording, that fear about reporting is not a barrier to the support described: the page attaches no visa condition to seeking help, and it says the Department can assist victims with their visa status.
What the page does not do is set out how any particular visa is assessed after a relationship ends, or what evidence is required. Those are separate rules on separate pages, and they are not covered here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is domestic and family violence a crime in Australia?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs states that domestic and family violence is a crime in Australia and is not acceptable under any circumstance. You have the right to a safe environment in Australia, no matter what the violence looks like.
Can I get help if my visa is temporary or I am unsure of my status?
The Department's official page says support is available regardless of your visa status. It attaches no visa-status condition to seeking help, and it says the Department can support victims by helping them with their visa status.
What number do I call in an emergency?
Call 000 if you are in immediate danger. That is the emergency number given on the Department's page, and it is the appropriate call when someone's safety is at risk right now.
Is 1800RESPECT free and confidential?
Yes. The Department describes 1800RESPECT as providing free, confidential counselling and information, and gives the number as 1800 737 732. There is also a 1800RESPECT website if you would rather start online.
How do I get a free interpreter?
Call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450. The Department lists this as a free interpreter service, and it can be used alongside the other lines described above.
Do I have to stay with my partner to keep my visa?
No. The Department states that you and your family do not have to remain in a relationship where you fear for your or your family's safety to stay in Australia. Your safety is not something you have to trade against your visa.