Domestic violence

Graham Crewe
Dec 12, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Jan 5

A wide range of help and support is available in the whole of Austria for anyone affected by domestic violence.

Note that the Gewaltschutzzentrum has many branches throughout Austria and is a good first point of contact. They can probably quickly find someone to speak to you in English.

Most of the online information is in German but your browser will translate it for you.

Secret hand signal

There is a secret hand signal that can be used to raise the alarm:

The signal is performed by holding your hand up with your thumb tucked into your palm, then folding your fingers down, symbolically trapping your thumb in your fingers. It was intentionally designed as a single continuous hand movement, rather than a sign held in one position, that could be made easily visible.

If you need help we urge you to please call, email, or walk-in to one of the organisations below for a free and confidential consultation. If you are unable to call, try to have someone contact them for you.

Gewaltschutzzentrum is the best initial contact for English speakers, because they have more workers who speak the language. All of the organisations work together and provide free advice and consultations in a wide variety of languages. The representative you speak with can help decide which organization is the best fit for your needs, and you can choose to stay anonymous.

Nationwide contacts

24/7 hotlines

Frauenhelpline gegen Gewalt (Women's helpline against violence)

Telephone: +43 800 222 555

Website: www.frauenhelpline.at

Männerinfo (Information for men)

Telephone: +43 800 400 777

Rat auf Draht (Advice on the Line)

Telephone: 147

Website: www.rataufdrat.at

Gewaltschutzzentrum (Violence Prevention Centre)

Branches in every province of Austria: https://www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at

This service provides legal advice on how to handle a violent or threatening person in your life. They can advise the best course of action to keep yourself safe and can help contact the authorities, file restraining orders, etc… as needed. They will find a way to help keep you safe, and to ensure you feel safe. Free consultations are provided.

Bundeskanzleramt Österreich: Gewaltinfo

Emergency contacts and a directory of services across the country

https://www.gewaltinfo.at

Provincial contacts

Vienna

Vienna local government webpage

Resources and contact information for services in the city of Vienna.
https://www.wien.gv.at/frauen/gewalt-an-frauen

Gewaltschutz Zentrum Wien (Violence Prevention Centre)

Telephone: +43 1 585 32 88
Address: Neubaugasse 1/3 (Ecke Mariahilfer Straße), 1070 Wien
Website: https://www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at/wien/
Office hours: Monday to Friday: 08:30 – 20:00 Uhr; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 – 18:00 Uhr (please phone ahead to make an appointment)

Burgenland

Carinthia (Kärnten)

Local government information

https://frauen.ktn.gv.at/service/gewaltschutz

Gewaltschutzzentrum Kärnten (Violence Prevention Centre)

https://www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at/kaernten/

Caritas Kärnten

https://www.caritas-kaernten.at/hilfe-angebote/psycho-soziale-beratung/beratungsstelle-fuer-gewaltpraevention/

Lower Austria (Niederösterreich)

Local government information

https://www.noe.gv.at/noe/Frauen/schutz_vor_gewalt.html

Gewaltschutzzentrum Niederösterreich (Violence Prevention Centre)

https://www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at/niederoesterreich/

Hilfswerk

https://www.hilfswerk.at/niederoesterreich/familie-beratung/jugendliche/noe-frauentelefon/
Telephone: 0800 800 810

Salzburg

Local government information

Land Salzburg services: The provincial government provides a wide range of services and events: https://www.salzburg.gv.at/themen/gesellschaft/frauen/hilfe-bei-gewalt

Schutzunterkünfte im Bundesland Salzburg (Emergency shelters in the province of Salzburg)

Advice line: +43 800 44 99 21
Email: frauenhaus@viele.at
Website: https://viele.at/schutzunterkuenfte

Gewaltschutzzentrum Salzburg (Violence Prevention Centre)

Telephone: 0662 870 100
Email: office.salzburg@gewaltschutzzentrum.at
Website: https://www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at/salzburg/
Address (Salzburg HQ): Paris-Lodron-Straße 3A, 5020 Salzburg
Further Salzburg branches in Neumarkt, Hallein, Schwarzach im Pongau, Zell am See, Tamsweg
Office Hours: Monday through Friday (They are wonderful about promptly returning calls and emails)

Frauentreffpunkt (Women's Meeting Point)

Address: Strubergasse 26, 5020 Salzburg
Telephone: 0662 875498
Email: office@frauentreffpunkt.at
Website: https://www.frauentreffpunkt.at/
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:00 to 13:00.
Wednesday 13:00 to 17:00. Sometimes slow to respond to calls and emails.
The consultations take place in the form of one-on-one discussions. Telephone consultations and brief information consultations without an appointment are possible during opening hours.
They also offer accompaniment to police, courts, or other institutions if required.

FrauenNOTRUF Innergebirg

5760 Saalfelden, Postfach 3
Telephone: +43 664 500 68 68

Styria (Steiermark)

Local government information

I have found little useful information on the steiermark.at website but here is the homepage for domestic violence (no contact information to be seen): https://www.soziales.steiermark.at/cms/beitrag/12952926/439/
And here (in the column on the right) are some emergency contact numbers: https://www.soziales.steiermark.at

Gewaltschutzzentrum Steiermark (Violence Prevention Centre)