From 1 April 2025, your premium may change due to our annual increase. You've been informed about this change via email or mail (based on your preference). Find out more.

If you are in danger or need emergency assistance, call 000. For crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 44 for free, 24 hour telephone support.

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Member support

We are committed to supporting our members affected by family and domestic violence and encourage members to reach out for a confidential discussion about how we can help.

 

Family and domestic violence takes many forms and can affect anyone. For your safety, we recommend you open this page in a private/incognito window or open using a secure device. For more information visit respect.gov.au

 

 

What is family and domestic violence?

Family and domestic violence takes many forms and can affect anyone. Family and domestic violence involves a pattern of abusive behaviour that aims to scare and control a person. The abuse does not have to be physical to be family and domestic violence.

A serious form of family and domestic violence is financial abuse — where an abuser uses money or the access to services like health insurance, as a means to gain power and control.

 

Where can I get domestic violence support for my family?

There are a number of free services available to support those impacted by family and domestic violence. We’ve listed many of them out below.

 

While Westfund staff are not counsellors, we are here to support you. We encourage you to call us for a confidential discussion about the assistance we can offer when it comes to your health cover.

 

000

If you are in danger or need emergency assistance, please call 000.

 

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

For free and confidential telephone counselling in relation to family and domestic violence and/ or sexual assault. If you need an interpreter or translator, you can ask for one and the counsellor will make the arrangements. You can visit 1800RESPECT or call 1800 737 732.

 

Lifeline (13 11 14)

For free, 24-hour telephone crisis support, visit Lifeline or call 13 11 14.

 

Elder Abuse Help Line (1800 353 374)

For free information and support services for people that have experienced or witnessed elder abuse, call Elder Abuse Helpline on 1800 353 374.

 

Financial Counselling Australia (1800 007 007)

For free resources and advice from a private financial counsellor, please visit Financial Counselling Australia or call 1800 007 007.

 

Beyond Blue (1300 224 636)

For free telephone and online counselling, 24/7, visit Beyond Blue or call 1300 224 636.

 

13Yarn (13 92 76)

For mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. 13Yarn offers confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. Visit 13Yarn or call 13 92 76.

 

MensLine Australia (1300 789 978)

For free telephone and online support for men dealing with family and relationship difficulties, visit MensLine Australia or call 1300 789 978.

What can Westfund offer you?

How we can help

  • Financial leniency, in periods where your focus needs to be on your safety.
  • The option to help you take out your own policy, if you want, to protect your safety.
  • The introduction of additional layers of password protection to your account, to ensure that your personal and sensitive information remains safe and confidential.
  • The option to include a confidential note on your file, so that you only need to explain your situation to us once and so that subsequent staff who deal with you are aware of your situation.
  • The option to protect any claims that are made meaning claim information will not appear online or in any claims history documents that are issued, if it is sensitive.
  • The option to lock your account so that it can only be access by our staff that are directly involved in provided your assistance, giving you additional privacy.
  • We can discuss safe ways to communicate with you.