Escaping Violence Payment.

The Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) program can help you move forward and set up a home free of violence.

The EVP program is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au or text 0458 737 732. For crisis support and suicide intervention please call Lifeline 13 11 14. Additional help and support options can be found in our Support and help beyond the EVP program booklet.

The EVP program operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays. 

Escaping violence payment

Paying the costs of moving to safety.

Are you, or someone you know, trying to leave or have left intimate partner violence? The Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) Program offers financial assistance to help you move forward and set up a home free of violence. 

An intimate partner is someone you have been in a romantic relationship with such as husband, wife, partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend.

That violence can be:

Who can access the service?

The payment is available if you are:

All of the requirements detailed here must be met in order to be eligible.

Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
  • Recent experience of intimate partner violence (please note: an intimate partner refers to a current or former romantic partner).
Change to living arrangements due to Intimate Partner Violence

Within the last 12 weeks:

  • You have changed residence due to intimate partner violence
  • OR remain in your home where the perpetrator is no longer living
  • OR have a safe plan in place to move soon (including from a refuge or other temporary accommodation).
Financial Stress
  • Currently experiencing financial stress
  • Unable to meet financial commitments
  • Unable to maintain financial independence.

If you do not meet these eligibility criteria, you can find further help and support listed here through a range of nationally available agencies and organisations.

How does it work?

If you have recently left or are planning to leave, and you are struggling with finances to live your life in safety, you could be eligible for up to $5,000 financial assistance:

The payment will be customised for you, based on your personal needs. You do not need to be connected to Uniting to access the payment but if you are already working with a family violence support service, talk to them about what to do next. 

How do I access the payment?

You can apply directly yourself. Or if you have a support worker, they can assist you with your application.

If you are an agency who is assisting or referring a client to the EVP program, please review the Referring agency fact sheet.

EVP program is not a crisis intervention service. If you are in danger now call 000. If you need emergency assistance with family and domestic violence contact 1800 RESPECT.

The EVP program is supported by the Australian Government and run by the UnitingCare network. There are EVP teams in every state and territory available to help you.

FAQs

The Escaping Violence Payment Program offers financial assistance and confidential support for people who have recently left a violent intimate partner. It will help you move forward and set up a home that’s free from violence.

The Escaping Violence Payment Program can help you re-establish safety after leaving a violent partner or after they have left or been removed from the home. There is financial assistance and other confidential support services. You might be eligible for up to $1500 in financial assistance such as cash or cash equivalent and depending on your needs, other goods and services and support up to a total, combined value of $5000.

You do not need to be a client of the UnitingCare Network to access the payment and you can also be referred by any family violence or other support service. If you already have a case worker, they can help you work out if you are eligible and apply for the EVP with you. If you are not in contact with a service, you can apply directly via the eligibility form on this website.

  • If you are over 18, experiencing financial stress, and you have changed residence due to intimate partner violence within the last 12 weeks
  • Remain in your home where the perpetrator is no longer living within the last 12 weeks
  • Have a safe plan in place to move soon (including from a refuge or other temporary accommodation) you may be eligible.

The Escaping Violence Payment is available to Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents. If you are applying through this website, the application form steps you through basic eligibility criteria.

If you do not meet these eligibility criteria, you can find further help and support listed here through a range of nationally available agencies and organisations.

We will contact you within a few days to confirm that we have your details and that information you have submitted is correct. We may also ask for additional information. There is no need for you to follow up on your application.

After you have been contacted about your application, and we have received any additional information requested, a dedicated EVP worker will be in touch. This will be within a few weeks, and they will work with you to tailor your EVP package including identifying your goals and priorities, commencing payment of the cash component and working with you to create a future free from violence.

The EVP program provides time limited support including case work and assistance to connect to support services and referral pathways. 

You can access the EVP once every 12 months. You can reapply to the program 12 months after your application was closed and you received your final payment. All applications must meet the EVP eligibility criteria in order to be eligible for the program.

The Escaping Violence Payment is not a crisis service. Help is available now if you, or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of domestic, family or sexual violence. In case of an emergency call 000, and for information, support and counselling you can contact one of the following services:

  • 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit 1800respect.org.au. This is the National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line. This service is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day and supports anyone affected by domestic and family violence and sexual assault.
  • Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au. Lifeline can provide all individuals with crisis support and help put you in contact with a crisis service in your state.
  • Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or visit kidshelpline.com.au. Kids Helpline is a free telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25.
  • MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78. MensLine Australia is the national telephone and online support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns. The service is available from anywhere in Australia and is staffed by professional counsellors, experienced in men’s issues.

Visit dss.gov.au for a list of domestic and family violence services and supports in each state and territory.

See here for a list of other supports and help that you can access from anywhere in Australia.

The information you submit will help us determine your eligibility as quickly as possible – we have been receiving a large number of applications and responses may take a few weeks.

The Escaping Violence Payment is not a crisis service, so if you need immediate assistance, you should call 000 or 1800 RESPECT.

Yes. Your case worker can complete your application with you and send it through to us. Your case worker is your main point of contact and can help you tailor your package if you are eligible. You can still apply directly to us via the eligibility form on this website if you prefer.

No one will know you have accessed the service unless you tell them. When you contact the Escaping Violence Payment program, you tell us how and when we can communicate with you safely, so that your enquiry will not be discovered by a perpetrator.

We have a privacy policy and will not disclose your details to anyone else except where we have concerns about your immediate safety or the safety of others.

In this situation we will make every attempt to talk to you about our concerns and what steps we may need to take to ensure you and others are safe.

Privacy, confidentiality and safety will be maintained at all times.

If you aren’t eligible for the Escaping Violence Payment program, you may be referred to other support services, such as specialist family violence services and local, state wide or national programs.

See here for a list of other supports and help that you can access from anywhere in Australia.

You can gather supporting documentation to get ready for your EVP application.

If you have been working with a Family Violence service or counsellor, they can assist you to apply to the EVP program. Supporting documents can include:

  • Proof of age photo identification (e.g. Driver’s licence)
  • Information relating to your Australian Citizenship (e.g. green Medicare card, Australian Passport)

Please note: you may be required to provide other supporting documentation related to the eligibility criteria, if available.

This booklet details your rights and responsibilities once you are accepted as a client of the EVP Program. It describes how we protect privacy and store your information, as well as how you can provide feedback, compliments or complaints.

Download EVP client booklet here.

If you do not speak English, ask the free translating and interpreting service or TIS to make a phone call for you.
 
You can call TIS on phone number 13 14 50.
 
You can give the TIS officer the EVP program phone number 1800 EVP EVP (1800 387 387) to make contact with us.
The National Relay Service (NRS) is a phone service for people who are deaf, or have a hearing impairment and/or speech impairment.
 
When you contact the NRS you can give them the EVP phone number 1800 EVP EVP (1800 387 387) to make contact with us.
 
For more information visit the National Relay Service or call the helpdesk on 1800 555 660 (call 1800 555 630 if using TTY, or SMS 0416 001 350).

Our partners

The EVP program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and delivered by a national network of agencies. As an EVP client you will work with the agency most closely connected to your current location. Uniting Vic.Tas is the lead agency appointed by the Department of Social Services.

The delivery partners in each state are:

Get in touch

We’re here for you.

If you have any questions or needhelp to complete your application, call 1800 387 387 (1800 EVP EVP).

Get in touch 1800 387 387