Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Neonatal Loss
VFN has created a safe space for parents of babies who are no longer here with us. The VFN Pregnancy Loss Support Group is free to join for any parent living in Vienna and seeks to acknowledge those parents and create a space for them to share, grieve and connect with other parents who have a shared experience of living life after loss. If you are interested in joining this group, please send us an email.
Divorce/Family Support
Austrian courts provide free legal consultations for individuals every week. You need to make an appointment in advance.
Another place to obtain free counseling is the attorney’s union. You can request one free consultation with a legal professional in the area you need.
In Vienna, MA11 is the public office responsible for family affairs. Counseling on various topics is also available there.
Violence Against Women
There are different services in Vienna that can be contacted if you are a victim of violence:
1. The Women’s Emergency Helpline
The team of qualified psychologists, social workers and legal experts at the Women’s Emergency Helpline can be contacted 24 hours a day at +43171719. It is a contact point for women and girls aged 14 and older who have become victims of sexual, physical or mental violence.
Its central services include swift emergency aid and crisis intervention as well as counselling (in German, English and Italian), advice and support in the event of acute violent experiences. The services are also available to co-affected family members, friends or acquaintances.
2. Shelters for Abused Women and Outreach Centers
Vienna’s four women’s refuges offer victims of domestic violence and their children protection, assistance and temporary accommodation. Nationality, religion or income is irrelevant. They can be reached around the clock on +4357722.
For those experiencing domestic violence (or being threatened by domestic violence), who do not require accommodation, the following phone number +4315123839 should be called. This council center (Beratungsstelle) offers advice and assistance in German, English and Turkish.
3. Domestic Abuse Intervention Center
In each province of Austria there is at least one Domestic Violence Intervention Center (also called Centers for Protection against Violence (Gewaltschutzzentrum)) that offers free support and counselling services to assist victims within the framework of police barring orders for perpetrators of domestic violence. More information on the nine Austrian Domestic Intervention Centers can be found here.
4. Emergency line for victims of sexual violence
The women’s counseling center for sexual violence offers anonymous and free advice to victims of sexual violence. They can be reached on +4315232222.