Providing refuge, free from violence.
If you or anyone you know is in immediate danger – dial 000
Destination Accessible offers crisis accommodation for women and children escaping family and domestic violence. We work with leading organisations such as Safe Steps, The Orange Door and The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre to provide sanctuaries to those who need it most.
Domestic Violence emergency housing provides a safe haven for individuals fleeing abusive situations, offering immediate protection from harm. Destination Accessible respite offers confidential and supportive environments, ensuring survivors have a secure place to recover and plan their next steps.
Family and domestic violence includes behaviours used to control, intimidate or harm another person, and can take many forms. At Destination Accessible, we are passionate about helping women and children escape violence, while supporting them on their journey to safety.
What is Family and Domestic Violence?
Family and domestic violence is a serious and widespread issue that affects individuals and communities across Australia. It is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children, and one of the most pressing social challenges we face today.
This form of violence is not limited to physical harm—it encompasses a range of abusive behaviours used to gain power and control over another person, often within intimate or family relationships. These behaviours include:
Physical and sexual violence
Emotional and psychological abuse
Financial control
Technology-facilitated abuse
Stalking and controlling behaviours
Threats of violence
Family and domestic violence stems from a significant imbalance of power and can have devastating and long-lasting effects. It contributes to more death, disability, and illness in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor.
Sadly, this is not a distant issue—it happens in our suburbs, our towns, and within our communities.
It is understood that Family and Domestic violence impacts people and communities from all walks of life, however this kind of violence is disproportionately aimed at those living with a disability.
In fact there is a significantly higher risk of experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence for people with a disability as opposed to other people in the community. Particularly, women living with a disability are almost 40 per cent more likely to experience family and domestic violence than other women.
Additionally, accessing support services is considered to be significantly harder for people with disabilities, which puts them at further harm and makes them less likely to report experiences of violence.
According to 1800Respect (a national family, domestic and sexual violence counselling provider) when comparing women with disabilities to other women, those living with a disability face sever forms of violence at significantly higher rates, more frequently, in more ways, and by more perpetrators while having considerably fewer pathways to safety.
Recognising forms of violence against women with disabilities:
While the violence experienced by women with disabilities will often look like the violence being experienced by other women in the community, there is also additional forms of physical, psychological and sexual violence that may be used.
The violence could be perpetrated by a partner, relative, paid or unpaid carer, staff or medical provider, in a residential or institutional setting. Violence could include the use of frequent violence, neglect, poor care as well as economic, verbal and sexual abuse.
Examples of other forms of violence towards women with disabilities, as reported by 1800respect:
- Threatening to punish, abandon or institutionalise them.
- Threatening that police or other services will not believe their reports.
- Threatening to report them to Child Protection or have their children taken away.
- Threats to assistance animals such as guide dogs
- Financial abuse
- Abuse that focuses on the disability itself.
Many women who are already seeking support for their disability often fall under the care of NDIS funded providers who have a varied understanding of family, domestic and sexual violence. This is because disability support services are not covered under the MARAM and family violence information sharing- scheme.
At Destination Accessible, we are well-versed in family and domestic violence offering crisis accommodation and support, while working alongside leading stakeholders. Similarly we also provide support and accommodation for people living with disabilities as an NDIS funded provider. This allows us to streamline our services and provide a continuous form of care to those who need it most. It is in this way that we aim to provide a safe haven to women with disabilities who are disproportionately faced with abuse including family, domestic and sexual violence.
The Impact
The consequences of family and domestic violence are profound and far-reaching. Victim-survivors may experience:
Serious physical injuries and chronic illness
Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress
Substance abuse
Displacement and homelessness
Loss of life
The Facts
One woman is killed nearly every week in Australia due to family and domestic violence.
657 cases of family and domestic violence are handled by police every day.
1 in 5 women have experienced sexual violence by the age of 15.
61% of victim-survivors report their children were present during incidents of violence.
48% said their child saw or heard violence in the home.
Women are nearly three times more likely than men to experience violence by a current or former partner.
Aboriginal women are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family and domestic violence than non-Aboriginal women.
Women with disabilities are almost 40% more likely to experience family and domestic violence.
Family and domestic violence remains the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Australia.
Reports, Stats, Latest News
ABC News - Domestic Violence
Coalition unveils $90m domestic violence strategy focused on prevention, early intervention and crisis response
Personal Safety, Australia
Rates of physical and sexual assault, family and domestic violence, economic and emotional abuse, stalking, sexual harassment, and childhood abuse.
Family Violence Dashboard
The Family Violence Database (FVDB) is produced annually by the Crime Statistics Agency to provide publicly accessible data and statistics on family violence in Victoria.
What Happens Next?
Step 1: Contact one of our partners to begin your Intake and Assessment
To ensure your safety, it is important to connect with a leading organisation such as Safe Steps, The Orange Door or The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre to begin working with Family Violence Specialists. Your support options will be explained and with your consent, you may be referred for crisis accommodation.
Step 2: Seek a referral to stay at one of Destination Accessible’s Accommodations
After connecting with our Domestic Violence refuge partners, we provide fully furnished crisis accommodation tailored for women, children, their dependents — and even their pets. Each home is carefully chosen to ensure safety, comfort, and dignity, offering a secure environment with access to essential services, therapeutic support, and community networks.
Step 3: Fill out our accommodation intake form
The Orange Door, SAFV Centre, or Safe Steps will prompt you to complete our Domestic Violence Intake Form with the support of your case manager. This form helps us understand your individual needs and allows us to match you with the most suitable crisis accommodation.
You can access the form through your care team or download it online. Once completed, your case manager will submit it to [email protected].
If you have any questions or need additional support at any stage, please don’t hesitate to contact Georgia, our Domestic Violence Manager.
Step 4: Begin your stay
From the moment you arrive, we’ll provide you with everything you need to feel informed, supported, and at ease. Our homes are fully equipped, comfortable, and ready for immediate use. During your stay, our responsive team is here to support you — whether you need assistance within the home or help connecting with the wider community. At Destination Accessible, we’re committed to making your experience as safe and comfortable as possible.