No Money or Nowhere to Live Because of Domestic Violence? Your Options in Queensland

Start here: contacts for immediate help

Open our QLD & NSW Legal and Government Contacts Directory first. It is the quickest single place to find verified phone numbers and links for emergency services, Gold Coast and Queensland domestic violence support, Legal Aid, community legal centres, housing, Centrelink, courts and government services. Use it if you need to make calls now, do not know which service is right, or need a number that is not listed below.

This page then helps you decide which service to contact first, depending on whether you need immediate safety, somewhere to sleep, money for essentials, or legal advice about a DVO. You do not need to decide whether you are “a victim” or “the accused” before seeking practical help: either person can be unsafe, homeless or financially controlled, and being named in a DVO application is an allegation, not a finding that you are a perpetrator.

A practical plan: what to do first

1. Make sure you are safe tonight

If there is immediate danger, an assault is occurring, or you fear someone will hurt you or the children, call 000. If you are not in immediate danger but need to leave, need a safe place for the night, or do not know where to go, contact a crisis service before dealing with court forms or property.

• DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811, 24 hours, 7 days. Crisis counselling, safety planning, emergency transport and accommodation for women and children.
• DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636, 9am to midnight, 7 days. Confidential support, counselling, referrals and safety planning for men, including male victims and men named in DVO matters.
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732, 24 hours. National counselling, information and safety support for domestic, family and sexual violence.
• Lifeline: 13 11 14, 24 hours. Crisis support if you are overwhelmed, at risk of self-harm, or unable to cope.

2. Find a bed, food and essentials for the next few days

Do this next if you have been forced from home, left for safety, have no vehicle or cannot access money. You do not need a lawyer, a fixed address, or your own phone plan to ask for support.

• Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast: 07 5591 4222. Local counselling, court support, information, referrals and safety-related support.
• 54 reasons Gold Coast DFV Refuge and Mobile Support: 0437 481 623 during business hours; 0476 976 727 after hours. Crisis refuge and mobile support for women and children.
• Salvation Army Emergency Relief (Brisbane): 07 3001 6288. Food, clothing and financial relief.
• Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul QLD): 1800 846 643. Food, clothing, furniture and practical relief.
• Centrelink Crisis Payment: 13 28 50. A one-off payment may be available in severe financial hardship following family violence, subject to eligibility and time limits.

3. Preserve the basics without escalating the conflict

Once you are physically safe, avoid messages, visits or social-media contact that could escalate the situation or breach an order. Keep essential records: the application or order, court-date notice, identification, medication details, bank information, screenshots and a short chronological note of what happened. Do not use a shared account, shared cloud storage or a device that another person can access to store sensitive material if doing so could put you at risk.

If you have a DVO, Police Protection Notice or bail condition, read every condition closely and comply with it, even if the other person contacts or invites you. A breach can be a criminal offence. For a respondent, do not return to a property or collect belongings until you know the conditions allow it or police/lawyers have arranged a safe collection.

4. Get legal advice before your court date

Do this as soon as the immediate housing and safety position is stable, and certainly before your first court date. A DVO application is not a criminal conviction, but the order and its conditions can have serious practical consequences.

• Legal Aid Queensland: 1300 65 11 88, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Free legal information and eligibility assessment.
• Domestic violence court assistance line: 07 3917 0590, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
• Women’s Legal Service Queensland: 1800 957 957, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm. Free legal advice for women, including women who have been misidentified as the respondent.
• My Community Legal Gold Coast: 07 5578 9009. Free legal advice for eligible Gold Coast residents.
• Gold Coast Community Legal Centre: 07 5532 9611. Free legal advice and assistance for eligible residents.

If you cannot obtain an appointment before court, arrive early and ask for the duty lawyer. A duty lawyer can give free same-day advice, explain the options, help with forms and sometimes appear for you that day. They generally cannot prepare and run a contested trial over weeks or months. Read What does a duty lawyer do at a DVO hearing? for the detail.

5. Obtain longer-term financial and practical support

If you are a victim of a violent crime, VictimConnect on 1300 318 940 is available 24 hours, 7 days for counselling, case management, information and referral. It can also help with a Victim Assist Queensland application. Victim Assist Queensland on 1300 546 587 may provide financial assistance for eligible victims, including counselling, emergency accommodation and some lost income.

For women needing a service referral across housing, money, legal or community services, call Women’s Infolink on 1800 177 577 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450, available 24 hours, and ask the service you are calling to use it.

What an ouster condition means

An ouster condition is a condition in a DVO or temporary protection order that requires the respondent to leave a home and not return, or not approach within a stated distance. It can apply even where the respondent owns the home, is the sole tenant, pays the mortgage, or has most of their belongings there. It is a short-term protective measure made by the Magistrates Court, not a final decision about ownership, the lease, or the eventual family-law property settlement.

An ouster condition can create an immediate housing crisis. It does not mean you should go back to collect clothes, tools, medication or work equipment. Instead, seek legal advice and ask police or a lawyer about a supervised “keep the peace” collection or agreed arrangements. Returning without a lawful arrangement may breach the order. For a dedicated explanation, see Can a DVO kick me out of my own house? .

Being accused is not the same as being a perpetrator

A DVO application is an allegation, not a court finding. People may be misidentified as respondents, and both people in a relationship may, at different times, experience or use violence or controlling behaviour. A person can be a victim of economic control or coercive behaviour while also being accused of an incident that occurred in a highly charged situation. Courts must assess the evidence and who genuinely needs protection; they should not simply decide based on who applied first.

If you have been named as a respondent, get advice before consenting to a final order. If you believe the application is false, exaggerated, missing important context, or you have your own safety concerns, explain that clearly to the duty lawyer or solicitor. Read Can you be both a victim and a respondent in a domestic violence matter? for a fuller discussion.

The reality of free legal representation

Most private firms cannot provide long-term, pro bono representation to every person who makes a casual enquiry. A contested DVO matter can require affidavits, subpoenas, evidence preparation, negotiation and a final hearing, all of which take substantial legal time. That does not mean you have no options.

Legal Aid Queensland, community legal centres and specialist services are funded to provide free advice and, for eligible people, ongoing representation. LawRight coordinates a Queensland pro bono referral scheme, though its general Pro Bono Connect service does not usually take family-law, criminal-law or DVO referrals. A good private firm should be clear if it cannot take a matter and should point you toward the funded service most likely to help.

Frequently asked questions

Does having no money mean I cannot get a DVO or defend one?

No. You can seek help through Legal Aid Queensland, community legal centres and the free duty lawyer service at court. Emergency accommodation and relief services are also available regardless of whether you are the person seeking protection or the respondent.

Can a DVO make me leave a house that I own?

Yes, an ouster condition can require a respondent to leave and stay away from a home regardless of ownership or tenancy. It is not a final property decision. Do not return until you have advice or a lawful arrangement to collect belongings.

If I have been accused, does that mean I am a domestic violence perpetrator?

No. The application is an allegation. People can be wrongly identified, and some relationships involve violence or controlling conduct by both people. Obtain individual advice before agreeing to a final order.

Related topics

• QLD & NSW Legal and Government Contacts Directory
• What does a duty lawyer do at a DVO hearing?
• Can a DVO kick me out of my own house?
• Can you be both a victim and a respondent in a domestic violence matter?
• Who to contact for Domestic Violence help in Queensland?

We’re here either way

Whether you need urgent protection, you have been wrongly accused, or the situation is more complicated than a simple victim/perpetrator label, cost should not be the reason you do nothing. If private representation is not the right fit for your immediate position, we will tell you honestly and point you to the free services that can help today.

Need to talk it through? Contact us . Call (07) 5532 8777. In an emergency, always call 000.