Looking for more information about violence against older women?
Are you experiencing violence in your home?
Are you concerned about someone who may be experiencing Violence?
Are you worried about someone’s behaviour?
Interested in learning more about violence toward older women, even if you’re not personally affected?

On this page, we've listed a range of services to help guide you toward the information and support you need.

Family, domestic and sexual violence is not always physical. The definition covers a wide range of violence and abuse that may be perpetrated against older women, including:

Intimate partner violence: commonly known as ‘domestic violence’, refers to any behaviour within an intimate relationship, either current or past, that causes physical, sexual, or physiological harm. Intimate partner violence can also occur outside of the domestic setting, such as in public and between two people who do not live together.

Family violence: refers not only to violence between intimate partners but also to violence perpetrated in family-like settings. For example, elder abuse, violence perpetrated by children or young people against parents, guardians or siblings, and violence perpetrated by other family members such as parents-in-law.

Sexual Violence: refers to sexual activity that happens where consent is not freely given or obtained, is withdrawn or the person is forced, coerced or manipulated into any sexual activity. Sexual violence can be non-physical and include unwanted sexualised comments, intrusive sexualised questions or harassment of a sexual nature.

Coercive control: describes a pattern of abusive behaviours against another person over time, with the effect of establishing and maintaining power and dominance over them. For example, financial abuse, restricting freedom or independence, using threats and intimidation, emotional or psychological abuse (including spiritual and religious abuse) and technology-facilitated abuse.

Key Services

1800RESPECT

https://www.1800respect.org.au/ | call 1800 737 732 | text 0458 737 732 | 24/7 service

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. It is available for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services.

Domestic Violence Crisis Line

Domestic Violence Crisis Line | 1800 800 098

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Domestic Violence Crisis Line. If you call the Domestic Violence Crisis Line you can expect that you will:

be listened to and believed
have your options explained
get to make your own decisions about what is best for you and your family
be connected with a safe telephone interpreter if you need one

Lifeline

https://www.lifeline.org.au/ | call 13 11 14 | text 0477 13 11 14 | 27/7 service

A national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Lifeline exist so that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

13 Yarn

https://www.13yarn.org.au/ | 13 92 76

SA Police

Call 000 for emergency assistance.

Services in South Australia

Adult Safeguarding Unit

Adult Safeguarding Unit | 1800 372 310

If you suspect you or someone you know is being abused or mistreated, you can contact the Adult Safeguarding Unit.

Key areas of support for older women: provide confidential information, respond to reports of suspected or actual abuse, provide support to safeguard the rights of adults experiencing abuse, raise community awareness.

Women’s Safety Services SA (WSSSA)

https://womenssafetyservices.com.au/ | (08) 8152 9200 | DV Crisis Hotline: 1800 800 098

(WSSSA) supports women and their children who are experiencing domestic and family violence. They are an organisation committed to helping people find safety and support during and after experiencing abuse.

Key service areas for older women: Accommodation assistance, counselling, financial assistance, advocacy, outreach, men’s services (behaviour change), safety planning.

Nunga Mi:Minar

Nunga Mi:Minar | call 08 8367 6474

Northern Regional Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service supporting Aboriginal women and their children experiencing or escaping family violence.

KWY Aboriginal Corporation

https://www.kwy.org.au/ | call 08 8377 7822

KWY provides Aboriginal people, families and communities with cultural and support services to build positive change.

Centacare Catholic Community Services

https://www.centacare.org.au/ | 08 8215 6700

Centacare deliver over 60 community services across 30+ sites in metropolitan Adelaide and reginal south Australia. They deliver effective and flexible community services to South Australians of all ages, religions, ethnicities, cultures, abilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.

Key service areas for older women: counselling / mediation, homelessness, alcohol & other drugs, mental health, domestic violence, NDIS, connection to community.

Yarrow place

https://www.wchn.sa.gov.au/our-network/yarrow-place | 08 8161 7000

Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service is a service for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. Yarrow Place provides free and confidential service for people aged 16 years and over at the time of the sexual assault.

Key service areas for older women: 24 hour crisis response, counselling, advocacy, group programs, therapeutic support, country support, outreach

Relationships Australia South Australia

https://www.rasa.org.au/ | 1300 364 227

Relationships Australia South Australia (RASA) is a not for profit, secular organisation that is committed to improving the quality of family and community relationships, enabling individuals to thrive.

Key service areas for older women: eldercare, chronic illness, safety, separation, communication, conflict, mental health and wellbeing, finances and gambling.

Catherine House Inc

https://catherinehouse.org.au/ | 08 8232 2282

Catherine House provides accommodation and support services for women over the age of 18, unaccompanied by children, experiencing homelessness in South Australia.

Key areas of support for older women: Housing accommodation and support, mental health

Zahra foundation

https://zahrafoundation.org.au/ | 08 8352 1889

The Zahra Foundation provides programs, services, education and support that empowers you to take the next steps forward and build a life free from poverty and abuse.

Key areas of support for older women: financial counselling, domestic violence, empowerment program(s).

Uniting communities

https://www.unitingcommunities.org/ | 1800 615 677

Uniting communities help those in need find the courage to move forward through enriching their lives and uniting the communities in which they live. By tackling the deep-seated challenges that affect people’s lives, they are working to create systemic change and brighter futures for all South Australians.

Key areas of support for older women: Mental health and counselling, alcohol and other drugs, domestic and family violence, crisis support, elder abuse, help at home, residential aged care, support for carers, retirement residents, disability, homelessness, legal services, financial wellbeing, community support.

Legal Services Commission of South Australia

https://lsc.sa.gov.au/ | 1300 366 424

Legal Services seeks to give all South Australians equal access to justice through the legal system, providing free legal information, legal advice and legal education to all. Legal Services has also been involved in advising and supporting victims of family and domestic violence since the 1990s, and it operates a Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service at city and suburban Magistrates Courts and a dedicated Domestic Violence Unit at Elizabeth.

Key areas of support for older women: Domestic Violence, Legal Advice and Support.

Anglicare

https://anglicaresa.com.au/ | 08 8305 9200

Anglicare SA works with vulnerable members of the community to build communities of resilience, hope and justice. Their services are delivered in partnership with people, and their communities.

Key areas of support for older women: housing and homelessness, NDIS services, aged care, foster care, emergency assistance, financial counselling and literacy, Aboriginal services, new arrivals.

Yellow Gate

https://theyellowgate.org.au/ | 1300 564 164

The Yellow Gate provides free and confidential services for women who have experienced or are experiencing domestic, family, and sexual violence in the catchment areas within Southern Metropolitan Adelaide.

Key areas of support for older women: counselling, therapeutic group programs, community hub.

Uniting Communities Wesley Bowden (UCWB)

https://ucwb.org.au/ | 08 8245 7100

Provide services throughout greater Adealide regions across a range of services. Offer tailored services and one on one support, which considers your needs, preferences and lifestyle.

Key areas of support for older women: financial and mental health, NDIS, aged care

Cedar Health

https://www.wchn.sa.gov.au/our-network/cedar-health-service | call 08 8444 0700

ARA is the longest-serving organisation assisting the settlement of refugees in South Australia. Established in 1975 as ICRA (Indo Chinese Refugee Association), ARA has adapted over time to meet the many and varied challenges created by each new refugee crisis around the world.

Australian Refugee Association

https://www.australianrefugee.org/ | call 08 8377 7822

Migrant Women's Services

https://www.migrantwomensservices.com.au/

Migrant Women Service Centre is one of the most trusted communities in Adelaide that support migrant women all across Australia. They focus on providing a holistic range of support services to help them create a better future.

Further support services

Older women’s community support SA

First Nations Community Support

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Community Support

Country community support

LGBTI+ community support

Disability Community Support

Housing community services

Older Women experiencing Violence: Research Project

As part of a 12-month research project, supported by Office for Women, The Plug-in explored the unique experiences of older women in South Australia who have experienced Family, Domestic, and Sexual Violence (FDSV).

Based on the findings from the research project, The Plug-in developed four posters aimed at raising community awareness on this critical issue. The poster design was informed by extensive desk research and collaboration with stakeholders and victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence. We encourage you to download and print the posters to display at your office or in your community. Please click on each of the links below to view and print the posters.

To request professionally printed posters to be posted out to you for no cost, please contact Tahlia at The Plug-in on 08 8224 5514 or email connect@theplugin.com.au

To find out more about this research project please contact The Plug-in on connect@theplugin.com.au or alternatively call COTA SA reception on 08 8232 0422

All members of our community experience violence and there are many supports in place not included above. We encourage you to seek support.

Lifeline (13 11 14) – support line for those experiencing personal crisis
MensLine Australia (1300 789 978) – 24-hour support for men dealing with family violence and relationship difficulties
No to Violence Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491) – support for men who use violence
Child Abuse Report Line (13 14 78)

Older Women's Services and Supports

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