If you have immediate concerns for your safety you should call the police. 

Step 1: Speak t​o the police

You may need an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) to protect you where:

• someone has hurt you or your child 
• you are scared that someone will hurt you or your child
• someone is intimidating, harassing, or stalking you or your child.

To get an AVO you will need to show that you fear the defendant and that there are reasonable grounds for you to fear the defendant.

You should report any inciden​ts to the police. If you are scared you should talk to the police as soon as possible. The police may apply for (and issue in cases of domestic violence) a Provisional AVO (an urgent order) on your behalf.

A police application may be made either:

• by you attending a police station
• after the police have attended an incident or taken a report of an incident.

Police can use the Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) if you have difficulties understanding or speaking English. The police can also arrange an interpreter to be at court. This is a free service.

If the police do not apply for an AVO on your behalf you can make a private application. For more information, see Step by step guide: Applying for an Apprehended Violence Order through the Local Court.

If the protected person is a person under the age of 16, only the police can apply for an AVO on their behalf.

Step 2: Pro​​vide a statement

You should provide the police officer with as much of the following information as possible:

• the full name of the person you want protection from (the defendant)
• the address of the defendant
• the date of birth, if known, or an approximate age of the defendant
• the relationship between you and the defendant, for example neighbour or de facto spouse
• the names of anyone else you want protected by the order, for example, other family members living with you
• details of the incidents that are causing you fear, including the most recent incident
• details of any doctors reports or treatment by a doctor or hospital relating to any injuries caused by the defendant
• evidence of any damage to property (for example photos)
• information about the defendant's use of alcohol or drugs
• information about the defendant's access to firearms or other weapons
• information about any mental health issues
• whether any AVOs or other orders have been made in the past to protect you from the defendant.
• the orders you think you need.

If you are asking the police to apply for an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) on your behalf, you should also supply the following information:

• how long you have been in a relationship with the defendant
• the names and dates of birth of any children you have together or who live with you
• whether the defendant has ever been charged or convicted of any domestic violence offence
• whether there has been any violence or threats towards your children (if you have children)
• whether there is a family law court case between you and the defendant
• whether there are any orders made by the Family Court in place
• whether the Department of Communities & Justice is or has been involved
• whether you and the defendant have any parenting arrangements for your children (if you have children).

For more information about the orders you can get and what they mean​, see Mandatory and additional orders.

Step 3: Sign​ the statement

After you have given your statement you will need to sign it to show that you believe the statement contains the truth. The police should give you a copy of your signed statement.

Any statement you make to the police should be true. If you make a false statement you c​an be charged by the police. If you want to change a statement you have made you should get legal advice.

The police can charge you for making a false or misleading statement in an AVO case. If you want to change your statement you should get legal advice.  

The police should then investigate the matter. If the police believe there are reasonable grounds to apply for an AVO on your behalf they should go ahead and make the application for an AVO. After investigating, the police may also decide to charge the defendant with a criminal offence (or offences).

The police will either hand deliver or post you a copy of the AVO application.

Sample: Application for an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order​ ​​(311 kb) or text only version

Sample: Application for an Apprehended Personal Violence Order​ (27 kb) or text only version

 If the police believe that a person needs urgent protection they can apply for an urgent AVO called a Provisional AVO.

Step 4: Police s​erve​ the application

After the police have made the application, they must then serve it on (give it to) the defendant personally.

The police officer that serves the application for an AVO must fill out a 'sta​tement of service', and send it to the Court. The statement of service states when and how the application was served, so that the Court knows the defendant is aware of the application.