Family violence support
Our team supports customers who are vulnerable to or impacted by family violence. You can contact our Customer Care team for a confidential chat.
On this page
Note: if you or someone you know are unsafe right now, please call 000.
We have a specialist Customer Care team dedicated to supporting customers who are affected by family violence.
We know it can be difficult to talk about, so you'll only have to explain your situation once, and we promise you that your safety and privacy will always be respected. The information you provide won't be shared with anyone else on the account.
We can help by:
- Adding additional security to your account
- Protectioning your account from debt recovery
- Setting up a payment plan you can manage your account
- Help you apply for government grants you may be entitled to like the Utility Reflief Grant Scheme
- Offering plumbing support options
How to get in touch
You can connect with our Customer Care team directly on 1300 771 456 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm.) for a confidential chat or email customercare@sew.com.au
If you need an interpreter call 03 9209 0130
What happens when you call?
- A member of our Customer Care team will ask you a couple of questions about yourself and your needs
- They will let you know what types of support we may be able to offer
- If for any reason you can’t complete the call, you can email us and we'll call you back at a date and time that suits you
Family violence includes many forms of abuse and is when someone is controlling or hurting you. There are lots of ways that someone can use abusive behaviour towards you such as:
- Family violence is when your partner is using abuse to control and harm you
- Elder abuse is when an older person experiences harm caused by a trusted person or family member
- Coercive control is a form of abuse that includes monitoring, isolating, restricting or manipulating your freedom and autonomy
- Financial abuse can mean someone is stopping you from using your money or doing things to make your bill higher or harder to pay
- Emotional abuse such as insulting you yelling, swearing or making threats and frightening you
- Physical abuse such as pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping or threatening to do those things to you
Anyone can experience family violence or abuse.
If you need some help with your bill, but not the extra support and protection you get when you let us know about your situation, there are a number of options available through our financial assistance page.
Visit our Help and support page for more information.
1800 Respect |
Confidential information, counselling and support service |
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Safe Steps |
Crisis support and referral to safe accommodation | |
Djirra |
Support for Aboriginal women and their children |
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Intouch |
Support for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds |
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QLife |
LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral |
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Senior Rights Victoria |
Support and advice to help prevent elder abuse |
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Sexual Assault Crisis Line |
Confidential counselling service | |
Men’s Referral service |
Support and referral for men | |
WAYYS |
Support for people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness | |
Family Violence Law Help |
Information service regarding family violence and the law in Australia | |
Beyond Blue |
Support to people affected by depression, anxiety and suicide | |
Kids Help Line |
Phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 | |
Lifeline |
Suicide prevention crisis support services | |
Orange Door |
Local support and safety hub for families | |
Financial Counselling Victoria |
Support and advocacy for people in financial difficulty | |
Queerlife |
LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing support service | |
Uniting Vic.Tas |
Escaping violence payment program | |
Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Womens’s Service |
Upholding the rights of Aboriginal women against gender and racially based violence |