What to do if you are feeling unsafe

Contact police 

If you have experienced physical or sexual assault or someone is threatening you, contact the police immediately. If you would like help to talk with the police, go to one of these LGBTIQ+ support organisations or go to your local police station and ask to speak with a LGBTIQ+ Liaison Officer (also known as a Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer) to report the incident.

Collect evidence

Screenshot the chat or post – if things turn nasty, you might need it as evidence to report the abuse to online services, police or eSafety. Find out more about how to collect evidence.

Report harmful content 

Report harmful posts or profiles to the online service or platform first. If you don't hear back from the platform, report the harmful content to eSafety. You can find reporting links for most apps in The eSafety Guide.

In cases of image-based abuse, when someone shares an intimate image or video of you without your consent, report to eSafety immediately.

Prevent further contact

Once you have collected evidence, you can use in-app functions or the settings on the web browser to mute, unfollow or block the other person and change your privacy settings. The eSafety Guide has advice on key online safety functions for many online services, including dating apps.

For image-based abuse, stop all contact with the other person. You can use in-app functions to mute, unfollow or block them, but don't block them until you are advised to do so by eSafety or the police.

Get more help

Experiencing or helping someone who has experienced serious online abuse can be very disturbing.

You may find it helpful to use some strategies to manage the impacts and recover from cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse or image-based abuse.

You can also find counselling and support from an LGBTIQ+ support service that is right for you.

Find out what young LGBTIQ+ people can do if something has happened to make them feel unsafe.

Domestic and family violence

If you are in Australia and feeling unsafe right now, call the police on Triple Zero (000) or contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Remember your safety is important. If an abusive person learns that you are seeking resources and information, their abusive behaviour may get worse. Learn more and connect with support at 1800RESPECT.

It is estimated that one in three LGBTIQ+ people have experienced domestic and/or family violence in a past or present relationship. This means that LGBTIQ+ people are as likely as women in the general (non-LGBTIQ+) population to experience domestic and family violence.*

Check Say it Out Loud for advice about healthy relationships for the LGBTIQ+ community, and read our advice on domestic and family violence.

Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking is the use of technology to stalk or repeatedly harass someone and is a form of online abuse. All Australian jurisdictions have laws dealing with cyberstalking. Check out our advice on cyberstalking, if you think you are being stalked online or offline by someone.

Online resilience

Navigating the online landscape can be both exciting and challenging. If you would like to read some tips and advice from the community on how to strengthen and maintain your resilience check our advice on building online resilience.

Fear of deportation/loss of visa status

Whether you have student, migrant, refugee, or asylum seeker status or are waiting for any change in your visa status, you are protected by Australian law. If you have experienced adult cyber abuse, your visa status will not be affected or cancelled because you decided to report it to the authorities.

Additional LGBTIQ+ support services

For more support services for the queer and LGBTIQ+ community across Australia, visit the ABC Queer and LGBTIQ+ support services page.

_{*Source: Say it Out Loud.}