I want to stay in my home but end the relationship

Staying Home Leaving Violence is a free NSW service that provides the support you need, for as long as you need, to exclude violence from your home and prevent it in the future. As part of this program, the violent person is removed from the home allowing you and your children, if you have them, to remain safely in your home.

Staying Home Leaving Violence caseworkers help you:

  • work with Police and the courts to remove your violent husband, partner or boyfriend
  • support you through the separation
  • help with housing and money matters
  • improve your family’s safety.

Through the program, you will be provided with a range of support services such as safety planning, improving your home’s security such as changing the locks and putting up stronger window screens, assistance in managing finances, support for children and help throughout the legal process.

Staying Home Leaving Violence is a long-term support program designed to assist you through each step of the process.

You can apply for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) that includes an ‘exclusion order’. This prevents the perpetrator from returning to the home. Your local domestic violence court advocacy worker can help you arrange this at your local court. See our legal protection page for further information.

For people renting their homes, the law allows that if there is an AVO the victim may take over the tenancy and change the locks or security devices yourself, providing a copy of the key to the landlord.

If you decide to stay in your home, there are services that can help support you at this time. Support workers from women’s refuges can help you work out what extra services you need, and link you up with them.

If you are a migrant or refugee, please see our section for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Translated factsheets on the Staying Home Leaving Violence program are also available for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Contact

Staying Home Leaving Violence is a free service that operates in 18 communities across NSW. Call the Staying Home Leaving Violence program in your area:

  • Bega - Phone: 02 6492 6239
  • Campbelltown - Phone: 02 4633 3777
  • Dubbo - Phone: 02 6883 1560
  • Eastern Sydney - Phone: 0439 414 673
  • Fairfield - Phone: 02 9602 7795
  • Kempsey - Phone: 02 6563 1588
  • Lake Macquarie - Phone: 02 4943 9255
  • Liverpool - Phone: 02 9602 7795
  • Maitland - Phone: 02 4933 9540
  • Moree - Phone: 02 6752 8027
  • Mount Druitt - Phone: 02 9677 1962
  • Newcastle - Phone: 02 4926 3577
  • Penrith - Phone: 02 4721 2499
  • Redfern - Phone: 02 9699 9036
  • Shoalhaven - Phone: 0459 046 066 or 0459 046 077
  • Walgett - Phone: 02 6828 1611
  • Wollongong - Phone: 02 4255 5333
  • Wyong - Phone: 02 4350 1748.