Supporting a parent:

If you have a parent who is a victim of domestic violence, it can be hard to know how to help them. A lot of the time, it may seem like there is nothing you can do to help, especially if they do not want you to be involved.

We know how hard it can be to want to help but not know how.
Here are some things that may work for you:

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Ensure safety

If there is an emergency call 000.

Make a code word between your parent and yourself which signals calling a friend/neighbour/000 for help.

Speak to a trusted adult and if possible, organise a safe place to stay in an emergency.

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Speak to an organisation for advice and share their contacts

If you are unsure how to help a parent you can chat anonymously to a counsellor at the Kids Helpline, 1800Respect or another organisation listed on our helplines page for advice.

If you think a parent or family member could benefit from speaking to an anonymous counsellor, you may be able to share these contacts with them.

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Develop a safety plan

Staying safe is a priority, both for yourself and any affected family members. One way to be prepared in an emergency is to make a safety plan with your parent or siblings so that in an emergency, you know what to do and where to go.

If it is safe to do so, you could also put important belongings and documents together in the same place so they can be quickly accessed in an emergency.

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Encourage self-care

Remind your parent or family members to take care of themselves physically and emotionally.

Tell them you are worried about them and want to make sure they are ok.

Spend time with those affected by DFV and do activities, like exercising, that may reduce stress.

If you are able to, you could also make your parent or family members dinner or do jobs around the house to help reduce extra stress.

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Set clear boundaries for yourself

Wanting to help a parent or family member affected by DFV can be tiring so you should always make sure you are taking care of your own emotional and physical health as well.

If your parent begins depending on you too much for help, you could ask a trusted family member or adult to speak with them instead or speak to a counsellor for more advice.

If you are ever emotionally struggling, there are people available to help. Have a look at our helplines page.

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Look through our services page for any applicable services

One way you can help a parent is by sharing resources or services that may help them. During a difficult time, it can be hard for a person to access or seek out support, so sharing some options with a parent may help them find a plan to escape an unhealthy relationship.

Check out our services page for a list of services available across the Nation and in seperate States.

Supporting a parent and managing your own stress can be hard...

Even if you want to spend all your time helping your parent, you have to make sure you are also taking care of yourself as stress can build up quickly and impact your mental health. Check out our Supporting Yourself page or visit our Helplines section for more support.

It's okay to ask for help 💜

Supporting Yourself

Domestic Violence Hurts More Than One Person

Supporting a parent:

We know how hard it can be to want to help but not know how. Here are some things that may work for you:

Supporting a parent and managing your own stress can be hard...

We know how hard it can be to want to help but not know how.
Here are some things that may work for you: