Need help now?
If you are in immediate danger dial ✆111.
If you are not in immediate danger, but need help, call ✆0800 28 48 26 to speak to one of our team.
Aviva supports anyone
We support people of any age, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation who:
- are experiencing, or have experienced, family violence
- use, or are at risk of using, violence
- have experienced recent or historic sexual assault/rape
- are concerned about someone else who may be at risk of violence or using violence.
Support is available in Christchurch, Selwyn, Ashburton and North Canterbury.
Our services
- Adults’ Family Violence Services offers individual and/or group education to people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.
- Sexual Violence Services in partnership with START offers crisis support to adults 18 and above following either a recent or historical sexual assault.
- Tamariki Children Services and Rangatahi Youth Services offers individual and/or group education to children (age 5-12) and young people (age 13 and above) who have witnessed or experienced family violence.
- ReachOut offers individually tailored support for people using or at risk of using violence.
- Seuga offers bilingual and culturally appropriate group family violence education to Pasifika people.
- Whānau Resilience supports people to achieve long-term healing and recovery through a whānau centred approach.
All Aviva services are free and available to all people who meet our criteria; you do not need to enter a Safe House or to have left your relationship to access support.
Am I experiencing violence?
You might not realise your relationship is abusive because there’s no physical violence. It’s important to know that abuse isn’t just physical. It can also be emotional, psychological, economic, or sexual. A major sign that something’s wrong is if you or your children feel fearful.
For more information and guidance, complete our relationship check or see 'What is violence and abuse?'.
How can Aviva help?
Specifically, Aviva provides:
- 24-hour phone support and information via ✆0800 28 48 26
- individually tailored advice, advocacy and safety planning from a qualified family violence specialist
- Ministry of Justice approved family violence education programmes for adults and children
- support to ensure you have safe accommodation
- safe@home home security improvements for those at highest risk of repeat family violence
- advice and information on legal, health and financial issues
- help applying for a Protection or Parenting Order
- access to support from other agencies and services
Family Violence Education Programmes
In these programmes, you will:
- connect and share with others with similar experiences
- gain an understanding of violence and abuse
- develop plans to keep you and your family safe
- reestablish your wellbeing and confidence
- learn to create healthy positive relationships
Education is available in a group setting or individually. Groups run during term time in Christchurch, Selwyn, Ashburton, and North Canterbury depending on interest.
- Courageous Steps offers education for adults who have experienced violence.
- Aoraki Rōpū offers accessible adult education for those with disabilities or diverse needs.
- Tamariki Relationship and Individual Safety Education (RISE) offers education to children age 5-12.
- He Pito Mata offers education to youth age 13 and above.
- Seuga offers bilingual education for Pasifika men and women.
For more information, contact ✆0800 28 48 26 or ✉[email protected], or download our brochures below.
Courageous Steps Adults' Education Programme [PDF 6.4 MB]
Seuga - for Pasifika People [PDF 20.5 MB]
Contact Us
- Call us on ✆0800 28 48 26 or ✆(03) 378 3847 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for people in Canterbury
- Email ✉[email protected] (this inbox is checked Monday-Friday, 9-5)
- If you are a social service or other referring agency, please complete a referral form and forward to Aviva by email