Introduction
New changes in place
The Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 has now passed.
It includes changes to sentencing for certain offences.
Read more on the Department of Attorney-General and Justice website.
This page has information about the signs of domestic and family violence and help available for victims in the Northern Territory (NT).
You must report domestic and family violence to NT police. It is a requirement under the law.
How to report
If someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.
If you need a place to stay, read about about services you can contact to get help for domestic and family violence.
If you are victim of sexual assault, find out more about help for sexual assault victims or reporting sexual assault.
About domestic, family and sexual violence
New changes in place
The Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 has now passed.
It includes changes to sentencing for certain offences.
Read more on the Department of Attorney-General and Justice website.
Domestic and family violence can take many forms. It can happen to anyone.
It is when a partner, ex-partner or family member hurts another family member.
It could be carried out by any of the following:
- your partner
- your ex-partner
- someone you have had an intimate personal relationship with
- a relative, including people who are relatives according to Aboriginal traditional or contemporary social practice
- someone you live with or have lived with
- a carer
- a guardian.
Domestic or family violence can include any of the following:
- physical harm
- violent behaviour
- threatening behaviour
- sexual abuse
- verbal abuse
- psychological or emotional abuse
- social abuse
- neglect
- financial exploitation
- other type of abuse.
Get help for domestic, family and sexual violence
New changes in place
The Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 has now passed.
It includes changes to sentencing for certain offences.
Read more on the Department of Attorney-General and Justice website.
If you are experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, you should call a friend or a support service listed below.
You can also call:
- the Northern Territory Police on 131 444.
- 1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732 - a national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service
- Lifeline - the national personal crisis support service on 131 114
- Kids helpline - for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years for any reason on 1800 551 800 or webchat
- MensLine Australia - for men who are worried they are using violence on 1300 789 978 or webchat
- QLife - Anonymous, LGBTI peer support and referral on 1800 184 527 or webchat.
Find out more about how to report domestic and family violence.
You can find out how to contact other community social services from the Northern Territory Council of Social Services' (NTCOSS) online directory.
Read below to find your nearest support service.
Central Australia
Service | Phone |
---|---|
Women's Safety Services of Central Australia - shelter | 08 8952 6075 |
Women's Safety Services of Central Australia - outreach team | 08 8953 7648 |
Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation - Men's Outreach Assessment & Referral Service (MOARS) | 08 8952 1430 |
Sexual Assault Referral Centre | 08 8955 4500 |
Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council - domestic and family violence service | 08 8958 2345 |
Hermannsburg Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8954 9151 |
Ti-Tree Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8956 9019 |
Yuendumu Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8956 4138 |
Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit Aboriginal Corporation (CAAFLU) | 08 8953 6355 1800 088 884 |
Central Australian Women’s Legal Service | 1800 684 055 |
Domestic Violence Legal Help Alice Springs | 1800 684 055 |
NT Legal Aid Commission | 1800 019 343 |
Greater Darwin and Tiwi Islands
Service | Phone |
---|---|
Catholic Care NT Men's Behaviour Change Program | 08 8944 2000 |
Dawn House Inc. - shelter, counselling and outreach | 08 8945 1388 |
Darwin Aboriginal and Indigenous Women’s Shelter and Outreach | 08 8945 2284 |
Salvation Army NT Property Trust - Catherine Booth House | 08 8981 5928 |
YWCA - Domestic and Family Violence Centre | 08 8932 9155 |
Sexual Assault Referral Centre | 08 8922 6472 |
Ruby Gaea Darwin Centre Against Sexual Violence | 08 8945 0155 |
Tiwi Islands - Milikapiti Safe House - CatholicCare NT | 08 8970 9007 |
Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu) Safe House -operated by Territory Families | 08 8970 9161 |
Domestic Violence Legal Services (DVLS) | 08 8999 7977 |
North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service | 08 8923 8200 |
NT Legal Aid Commission | 1800 019 343 |
Top End Women's Legal Service | 08 8982 3000 |
Katherine / Big Rivers
Service | Phone |
---|---|
Katherine Women’s Crisis Centre - crisis accommodation, outreach and counselling | 08 8972 1332 |
Sexual Assault Referral Centre | 08 8973 8524 |
Borroloola Safe House - Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Association | 08 8975 8738 |
Beswick/Wugularr Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8975 4464 |
Lajamanu Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8975 0373 |
Nauiyu Safe House - CatholicCare NT | 08 8978 2876 |
Gunbalanya Women's Safe House - West Arnhem Regional Council | 08 8970 3700 |
Kalkarindji Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8975 1179 |
Ngukurr Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8975 4434 |
Wadeye Safe House - One Tree Community Services Inc. | 08 8978 1020 |
Yarralin Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8975 1103 |
Katherine Women's Information and Legal Service | 08 8972 1712 |
North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service | 08 8972 3200 |
NT Legal Aid Commission | 1800 019 343 |
East Arnhem / Nhulunbuy / Groote Eylandt
Services | Phone |
---|---|
Nhulunbuy crisis accommodation | 08 8987 1166 |
Groote Eylandt: Angurugu Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8987 6726 |
Maningrida Safe House operated by Territory Families | 08 8979 5861 |
Ramingining Safe House - operated by Territory Families | 08 8979 7879 |
NT Legal Aid Commission | 1800 019 343 |
Barkly / Tennant CreekBarkly / Tennant Creek
Services | Phone |
---|---|
Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge - crisis accommodation, outreach and counselling | 08 8962 1940 |
Sexual Assault Referral Centre | 08 8962 4361 |
Ali Curung Safe House - Barkly Shire Council | 08 8964 1967 |
Elliott Safe House - Barkly Shire Council | 08 8969 2097 |
NT Legal Aid Commission | 1800 019 343 |
Central Australian Women’s Legal Service | 1800 684 055 |
Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit Aboriginal Corporation (CAAFLU) | 08 8953 6355 1800 068 830 |
Report domestic, family and sexual violence
New changes in place
The Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 has now passed.
It includes changes to sentencing for certain offences.
Read more on the Department of Attorney-General and Justice website.
Under Northern Territory (NT) law you must report domestic and family violence to NT police.
This includes if someone has been seriously hurt or is in danger of being hurt. You must do this as soon as possible.
Read more about domestic and family violence.
How to report domestic, family and sexual violence
Call 000 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.
If it's not an emergency, call police on 131 444.
If you don’t feel comfortable, get someone you trust to call the police for you.
You don’t have to give your name and contact details if you don’t want to.
What information you should give to police
You should tell police all of the following:
- the location of the violence or abuse
- if the person needs medical help
- if there are any children nearby
- if there are any weapons involved
- the name of the victim or the other person if you know
- the relationship between the victim and the other person.
Penalty for not reporting domestic violence
If police believe that you have not made a report and there is sufficient evidence that you should have, then you may be charged with an offence.
The offence has a maximum fine of more than $20,000.