How to Feel Safer After Crime

Rebuilding safety can take time

After a crime, a home, device, street, workplace, or daily routine can feel different. There is no single “right” way to respond and no deadline for feeling settled again. For some people, safety may feel less certain because an incident changed something that once felt familiar or predictable. Practical issues — such as repairs, reporting, replacing items, dealing with messages, or deciding who to tell — can also keep the experience present.

This is not a sign that someone is doing recovery “wrong”. It may simply mean there are still questions, reminders, or practical needs that deserve time and support. You do not need to solve everything at once.

Start with one manageable practical step

It can help to separate immediate needs from steps that can wait. Immediate needs may include physical safety, medical care, police reporting, or emergency accommodation. If there is immediate danger, call 000.

When the immediate risk has passed, choose one small task that could make the next day feel more manageable. Depending on the situation, that may be asking a trusted person to sit with you, writing down questions for a support service, making a short list of damaged or missing items, checking an access point, or setting aside time to contact the relevant service.

You can also break a larger task into smaller parts. For example, instead of trying to organise every security or recovery need at once, you might first identify the one thing that feels most urgent, write down the next action, and decide who could support you with it. A practical plan should fit the person’s circumstances; it does not need to be completed all at once.

Consider practical support around you

Support can come from different places. A trusted friend, family member, support worker, police officer, community organisation, or relevant local service may be able to help with calls, information, transport, paperwork, or simply being present while decisions are made. You can decide what information feels safe to share and with whom.

If the crime involved online abuse, concerns about a device, or possible monitoring, take care before making major technology or account changes. It may be safer to use a device that another person has not accessed and to seek specialist information first. For an immediate threat to life or risk of harm, call 000.

Australian support pathways

Australia-wide emergency and police contacts may be the right starting point when there is immediate danger or a crime needs to be reported. The Australian Federal Police directs people to 000 for an emergency and 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance connected to local police.

Victim-support arrangements are administered by states and territories, so the services, eligibility rules, and assistance available can differ by location. People should check the relevant state or territory government victim-support service for their circumstances. For example, Victim Assist Queensland has information for people affected by an act of violence in Queensland, including eligibility requirements for financial assistance and recovery expenses. This is a Queensland-specific pathway, not an Australia-wide entitlement.

Where the situation involves domestic, family, or sexual violence, 1800RESPECT provides 24/7 support and technology-safety information. Where there is cybercrime or an online-safety incident, ReportCyber and the eSafety Commissioner provide Australian reporting and support information.

How Shield & Rebuild may assist

In Queensland, Shield & Rebuild may consider practical support pathways for eligible clients who are referred by recognised charities, police or government bodies. This is not a self-referral service. A referral is assessed individually and does not guarantee assistance, funding, or a particular outcome.

Authorised referring representatives should use the Client Assistance Form and provide only the information necessary for an initial assessment. People seeking general information can use the public resources on this website, speak with an appropriate local support service, or ask a recognised organisation to consider whether a referral is suitable.