Family Violence & Safety
You deserve to feel safe, supported and understood.
If you are experiencing family or domestic violence, you may have options to stay in Australia. You do not have to stay in an unsafe relationship because you are worried about your visa.
You are not alone. We are here for you.
About this service
Legal help when you need it most.
RAILS provides free, confidential and trauma-informed legal assistance to people on temporary visas who have experienced domestic, family or sexual violence in Australia.
We help victim-survivors and their children understand their rights and access permanent migration pathways so they can find safety and stability.
How we can help
Support that meets you
where you are.
01
Understand your visa options
We can give you information so you understand your visa situation and the options open to you.
02
Separate your immigration file
We can help you access and separate your immigration file from the person using violence.
03
Legal representation
We can represent you to Home Affairs or the Administrative Review Tribunal.
04
Interpreters & accessible
support
We can speak with you through an interpreter if you need one.
05
Connect you with support
We can connect you with other support services or work with any services already helping you.
Your safety matters
You don’t have to face
this alone.
Our experience
You don’t have
to face this alone.
RAILS has been working with migrants experiencing family and domestic violence for more than 20 years.
We also provide information and resources to organisations who support victim-survivors and advocate for better laws and policies to support victim-survivors.
20+
Years supporting
migrants
Free
Confidential legal
assistance
5
Ways we can
support you
Beyond legal assistance
Supporting
safer futures.
RAILS provides information and resources to organisations who support victim-survivors and advocates for better laws and policies to support victim-survivors.
Take the next step
Here is a path forward.
If you need legal advice in relation to people on temporary visas experiencing family and
domestic violence, read our factsheets and fill out our referral form.