Experiencing domestic and family violence is an allowable reason to leave home while stay at home orders are in place

“Stay at home orders are in place to help protect the community from the potentially deadly and highly infectious delta strain of COVID-19.

“For people whose homes are not safe due to threat of domestic or family violence you can leave home if you’re currently under stay at home orders or in isolation.

“This includes people in parts of Greater Sydney who can also leave their local government areas to seek help,” St Vincent de Paul Society NSW Team Leader – Homelessness and Housing Services, Michelle Anderson, said.

If you have to leave home and you can, wear a mask and continue to isolate or follow the stay at home requirements when safe to do so.

If you have tested positive to COVID-19 or are a close contact and have left home, please also contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.

“Experiencing domestic and family violence is one of the reasonable excuses to leave your home under the public health orders,” Ms Anderson said.

“We know that during previous lockdowns there was evidence of an increase in numbers of people seeking help to escape violent partners.

“Research also indicates there was an increase in severity of domestic violence during the same period.

“There is always help available for people experiencing domestic violence, even during lockdown.

“If you’ve made the decision to leave a violent home, you don’t need to worry about the current public health orders stopping you,” Ms Anderson said.

“If you are in immediate danger phone Triple Zero (000).

“If you are experiencing domestic or family violence, there is help available 24/7 via the NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 656 463) and Link2home (1800 152 152).

“The St Vincent de Paul Society operates several domestic violence shelters and services and these contact points can refer you to them,” Ms Anderson said.

Media contact: Lachlan Jones | 0417 446 430