Womensline

About Women’s Refuges

How long can I stay? | What are they like? | How do I get there? | What can I take? | Cultural Concerns | What about money, rent & my own home?

Refuges (sometimes called shelters or safe houses) provide safe and secure accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence in their homes or community.

In order to maintain security and safety, the location and details of refuges are confidential and not available to the public, and it is a condition of entering most refuges that you understand that you cannot reveal the location of the refuge to ANYONE – including your family.

Placement in a refuge can be arranged by contacting DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811

Staff who work in refuges specialise in supporting women and children during this difficult time and can offer accommodation referral services, advocacy, emotional support, support with legal matters and other support services.

Most refuges in Queensland receive funding by the Government and are operated by dedicated professional women through a variety of church and community based organisations.

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How long can I stay at the refuge?

In most cases as long as you need to; but it will depend on you and to some extent the various circumstances or facilities available at the refuge.

Some women only stay for a few days, and others stay several months.

Some women stay in refuges for a break from the violence, to allow themselves time and space to think away from the abuse, and may decide to return home to try again.

Many others use their stay in refuge to plan for the next stage of their life and arrange longer-term, safe accommodation in order to start a ‘new life’.

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What are refuges like?

There are different styles of refuges. Some provide a self-contained family unit with your own small kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Others offer a more communal style house where you will have your own room for yourself and your children, and other areas will be shared by the other women and children staying there.

Many women form supportive friendships with the other women in refuge, but some people prefer to keep to themselves. It is your choice.

Refuges have their own codes of conduct regarding the day-to-day running of the house, which will usually cover things like bedtimes for children, incoming telephone calls, cleaning and laundry.

Refuges will not allow women to stay if they have any problems with abusing drugs or alcohol . Nor are they able to provide accommodation for family pets.

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How do I arrange refuge accommodation?

Call DVConnect Womensline 1800 811 811. 

A counsellor will need to speak with you personally and will ask you details about your current situation.

The questions may seem quite personal but it is important you are honest with the counsellor so she can support you in the best way and ensure your safety.

Counsellors are not able to book accommodation in advance for you, or guarantee that there will be space in the location of your choice. Counsellors work on the principle of getting women to the nearest safe refuge available. Refuges places are, unfortunately, in high demand, and spaces offered will be determined by vacancies currently available. Counsellors will never place you in areas that are unsafe or where you will be at further risk of abuse (e.g. near where your partner lives, works, socialises) – they will ensure you are away from any potential risks to your children’s safety.

Your counsellor will also assist you in travelling safely to the refuge.

Please remember — It is very important that you keep all information about this process confidential, not just for you, but for all women and children in the refuge.

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What can I take with me to the refuge?

Refuges do not have facilities to store furniture or personal effects; you will only be able to take some basic necessities and a few personal belongings such as clothing, jewellery and small items of sentimental value, photographs, children’s favourite toys and toiletries

As a guide, and if you are safely able to plan ahead you should collect as many of your personal identification and legal documents as possible: e.g.:- Drivers License, passports, visas and work permits, Centrelink details, birth certificates for you and your children, money, bankbooks, cheque book and credit cards, mortgage details or rental agreements, Insurance documents and car registration documents. School and medical records, including the telephone numbers of the school and your GP or surgery. Any medication or prescriptions, current unpaid bills, your address book / diary and keys (house, car, office)

If you have to get to refuge in an emergency and do not have your basic belongings with you, the police may be able to do a `retrieval’ of your belongings the following day, in conjunction with your refuge worker. Speak to a DVConnect Womensline counsellor or refuge worker if this is required.

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What can’t I take to a refuge?

You will not be able to take large items such as furniture with you to the refuge. There are no refuges, shelters or safe houses in Queensland that can accommodate family pets.

However DVConnect Womensline in collaboration with RSPCA QLD has established a Pets in Crisis program  in Queensland where pets can be taken care of in safe locations or by ‘foster families’.

Please talk to your DVConnect counsellor if this could help you. Please do not call RSPCA Qld as all arrangements for Pets in Crisis have to made through DVConnect Womensline. Click here for more information about Pets in Crisis

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Cultural Concerns

Refuges are sensitive to different cultures and religions and will, where ever possible, accommodate the needs of people to participate in their religion.

Where privacy and security is assured our counsellors will also link people to cultural specific services where people can obtain interpreter services and phone or face to face support in such things as legal and immigration matters.

Refuges are also sensitive to dietary needs of different cultures and they can, for example, take people to culturally specific food outlets like butchers and supermarkets.

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What do I do about money and rent?

Most refuges require a weekly contribution to cover their costs. This amount varies from refuge to refuge but usually it is a percentage of your weekly income.

You may need to contact Centrelink to change your details. You may be entitled to an Emergency Payment (which you do not have to repay). This is payable if you have had to leave your home due to domestic violence and is to assist with the cost of re-establishing your home. If you have not already arranged this with Centrelink you can speak to your refuge worker about it.

If you are in full or part-time employment, but need to go into refuge as a result of domestic violence, consider discussing your situation (in confidence) with your manager or supervisor. You may be able to arrange some time off work which could be allocated as annual or sick leave.

If you leave full or part-time employment in order to relocate and move into refuge accommodation, your rights to Centrelink benefit may be affected. You will need to discuss this with Centrelink or a refuge worker as soon as you move into the refuge.

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What about my permanent housing situation?

You can leave the refuge at any point either to return home, or you may decide you want to re-establish yourself elsewhere. The choice is yours, and refuge workers will help you to decide what you want to do. They will also tell you how to get advice regarding joint property and mortgage agreements.

Do not agree to sign any documents relating to the tenancy or ownership of your home until you have received legal advice.

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