Protective Group

Protective Group We specialise in providing safety and security solutions to the most vulnerable people and organisations.

When on holiday's it is important to check if your photos are being automatically backed up or shared to cloud accounts,...
16/04/2026

When on holiday's it is important to check if your photos are being automatically backed up or shared to cloud accounts, family albums or shared devices.

Photos can automatically upload to iCloud, Google Photos, shared family accounts, tablets, laptops, smart displays and other linked devices without much thought. In some situations, this can reveal where someone is staying, who they are with, what they are doing and places they have visited.

This is especially important for victim-survivors because privacy risks are not limited to social media posts.

It is also important to remember that screenshots are photos too. If a person takes a screenshot of accommodation details, booking confirmations, maps, messages, safety plans, travel tickets or children’s arrangements, that screenshot may also automatically back up and sync just like any other image.

Protective Group recommend:
• check which cloud account your phone is signed into
• review whether photos and screenshots are automatically backing up
• look at whether images are syncing to shared albums, family accounts, tablets, laptops or smart displays
• check whether location data is attached to photos
• be mindful of screenshots that contain addresses, bookings, tickets, conversations or safety information
• review children’s devices as well, because their phones or tablets may also sync photos and screenshots
• where safe, remove access to old, shared accounts or devices that no longer need to be connected

A simple check of photo, screenshot and cloud settings before travelling can help protect privacy, location and peace of mind.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

A holiday should feel like a chance to rest, not another source of worry. But for some people, especially those experien...
12/04/2026

A holiday should feel like a chance to rest, not another source of worry. But for some people, especially those experiencing domestic violence, travel can create new privacy and safety risks that are easy to overlook.

One simple but important step is to make sure you sign out of YouTube, streaming apps, Google accounts and any other personal accounts on hotel, Airbnb or shared smart TVs before you leave.

If you stay signed in, the next person may be able to see your account name, viewing history, saved profiles, linked devices or even cast content from your phone.
In some situations, this can reveal personal information, routines or locations.

Protective Group recommend while you are away:
• sign out of smart TVs, tablets, speakers and shared computers before checkout
• avoid saving passwords on holiday accommodation devices
• check that your phone, photos and apps are not sharing your location unnecessarily
• be careful when posting in real time, as holiday photos and stories can reveal where you are staying
• review Bluetooth connections, AirDrop settings and device sharing settings in case your device is visible to others nearby
• use a strong phone passcode and turn on multi-factor authentication for key accounts
• be mindful of hire cars, smart home devices or accommodation apps that may collect location or access information
• where possible, use your own charger and charging cable rather than public charging stations

Safety is often about the little things. Before you leave your accommodation, it can help to do one last check: sign out, disconnect, review settings, and take your privacy with you.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

Child handover may be more common during school holidays. It can be one of the most stressful, emotionally difficult, an...
11/04/2026

Child handover may be more common during school holidays. It can be one of the most stressful, emotionally difficult, and unpredictable parts of domestic violence. For many victim-survivors, it is not simply a parenting arrangement. It can be a moment where fear, tension, and coercive control are felt most strongly.

When the person collecting or returning the children is also the person using violence or abuse, handover can feel overwhelming for both the parent and the children. They may be worried about what will be said, how the interaction will unfold, whether emotions will escalate, or how the children will be affected before, during, and after the exchange.

Protective Group recommends:
• where possible, choose a public place with visibility rather than a private home
• consider whether a trusted friend, family member, or support person can attend with you or manage the handover on your behalf
• keep the interaction brief, practical, and focused on the children
• where possible, avoid discussing conflict, parenting disputes, or personal matters during handover
• think ahead about where you will park, where you will stand, and how you will leave safely afterwards
• if appropriate, consider arrangements that reduce direct contact, such as school pickup and drop-off
• if children are feeling anxious, think about simple ways to support their emotional safety before and after the exchange
• trust your instincts and include handover planning as part of a broader safety plan

Most importantly, the safety and well-being of both the parent and the children should always come first.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, your family member, or your friend, please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

During holidays it can be an especially important time to think about safety, particularly for anyone who may be away fr...
10/04/2026

During holidays it can be an especially important time to think about safety, particularly for anyone who may be away from their home, routine, or usual support network.

Travel, family time, and school holiday plans can bring added pressure, and for some people they can also increase vulnerability. While no one should have to live this way, a few small safety steps can help create a little more control in a difficult situation.

Protective Group recommend:
• keep your phone with you at all times, along with some money if it is safe to do so
• if you have a back-up phone, make sure it is charged and ready to use, and that there is credit available if it is pre-paid
• if travelling interstate, be aware of local domestic violence support services and important contact numbers
• if travelling internationally, learn or save the local emergency number before you go
• if children are travelling with you, consider keeping extra copies of important documents for both you and them in a safe place
• where possible, a trusted friend or family member may be able to safely hold copies as an added backup

School holidays can also be a time to quietly check in on people you care about.

If you are worried about a friend or family member experiencing domestic violence, letting them know you are there, keeping your phone close, and being ready to respond if they reach out can make a real difference. Sometimes safety starts with one person being aware, available and calm in a moment of need.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

08/04/2026

Technology helps us stay connected, work, learn and manage our lives. But it can also be misused to monitor, control, threaten and intimidate.

That is the reality of technology-facilitated abuse, and it is becoming an increasingly common feature of family, domestic and sexual violence.

This is why it must be understood not only as a response issue, but as a prevention issue too. It reflects the same attitudes of control, entitlement and disrespect that drive other forms of abuse.

Join White Ribbon Australia online for an important event on technology-facilitated abuse, presented by Claire Hurst, alongside Stephen Wilson, CEO of Protective Group and Jenny Moore, Technology Strategist from Microsoft.

Together, they will unpack how everyday technology can be misused, share real-life examples, and provide practical ways to strengthen safety, respond early and seek support.

Book your place now: https://events.humanitix.com/white-ribbon-australia-tfa

During school holidays a victim of violence may work from home.A perpetrator may monitor calls, overhear meetings, check...
08/04/2026

During school holidays a victim of violence may work from home.

A perpetrator may monitor calls, overhear meetings, check devices, control movement, or use the home environment to intimidate and isolate. In this situation safety must always come before productivity.

This is why it is so important for workplaces to understand that domestic violence can affect employees even during the workday, including while working remotely. Supportive employers can make a meaningful difference by responding with care, protecting privacy, and helping put practical safety measures in place.

For victim-survivors, a simple and personalised workplace safety plan can help create more structure, support, and safer options.

Protective Group suggest a safety plan for someone working from home include:
• one trusted workplace contact
• a safe phone number or email to use
• agreed check-in times during the day
• a plan for what to do if a call or meeting becomes unsafe
• an alternative work location if home is no longer safe
• access to family and domestic violence leave if needed
• a code word or phrase to discreetly signal urgent help
• guidance on what not to leave visible in the workspace, such as documents, diaries or support information

Every situation is different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. What matters most is that the person feels heard, supported and safe and that any plan is tailored to their individual circumstances and level of risk.

Sometimes small practical steps, combined with a compassionate workplace response can make a very big difference.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

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When people are travelling, it is very common to connect to hotel Wi-Fi, airport internet, café networks, accommodation ...
07/04/2026

When people are travelling, it is very common to connect to hotel Wi-Fi, airport internet, café networks, accommodation smart TVs, or shared computers in reception areas and business centres.

But for victim-survivors, these everyday moments can create extra privacy and safety risks.

Public Wi-Fi networks are often convenient, but they are not always private. Shared devices may also save browser history, login details, autofill information, account sessions or recent activity without the user realising it. Even something as simple as opening an email account on a shared computer, logging into a travel app on a hotel tablet, or forgetting to sign out of a browser can leave behind information that reveals more than expected.

This may include personal emails, saved addresses, booking confirmations, travel dates, recent searches, account recovery details, contact information, or clues about where someone is staying and where they may be going next.

Protective Group recommend:
• avoid logging into sensitive accounts on shared computers where possible
• use your own device rather than public devices for email, banking and important accounts
• sign out fully after using websites or apps, especially on accommodation or public devices
• avoid saving passwords in browsers on devices that are not your own
• be cautious when using public Wi-Fi for sensitive logins or personal communications
• use multi-factor authentication on important accounts
• check your recent account activity if you are worried an account has been accessed

For many victim-survivors, holiday safety is not only about physical surroundings. It is also about protecting personal information, account access and privacy while away from home.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

When people are travelling, it can feel very normal to share a live location with a friend, tag a café, use a map app, c...
05/04/2026

When people are travelling, it can feel very normal to share a live location with a friend, tag a café, use a map app, check in at a venue, or rely on apps that automatically show where they are. Many of these features are designed for convenience and connection. But in some situations, they can also create serious safety risks.

If a perpetrator still has access to a shared account, an old phone, a family group, a synced tablet, a child’s device, or location settings that have not been fully checked, they may be able to see far more than expected. This may include where someone is staying, where they are travelling, how long they remain in one place, the route they are taking, or whether they are alone. Even when a person has not intentionally shared their location, some apps and devices may still be doing so quietly in the background.

For victim-survivors, this is why holiday safety is not only about the destination itself. It is also about understanding what information phones, apps, photos and linked devices may be automatically sharing.

Protective Group recommend:
• review who can see your location in apps such as Find My, Google, Snapchat, Facebook, Messenger and Life360
• check whether location sharing is active through family groups, shared accounts or device settings
• turn off location sharing that is not absolutely needed
• avoid posting holiday updates, check-ins or tagged locations in real time
• review app permissions and consider which apps actually need access to location services
• check whether photos are storing location data before sending or posting them
• be mindful that smartwatches, tablets, children’s devices and shared family apps may also reveal whereabouts
• look at whether old devices are still linked to your account and able to receive updates or location information
• consider who can see your posts, stories and account activity while you are away

A careful settings check before leaving, and again while away, can make a meaningful difference. Small privacy steps can help reduce unwanted location sharing and better protect safety, privacy and peace of mind while travelling.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

When planning a holiday, people focus on staying safe once they arrive, but sometimes the risk starts much earlier.Fligh...
04/04/2026

When planning a holiday, people focus on staying safe once they arrive, but sometimes the risk starts much earlier.

Flight bookings, accommodation confirmations, rideshare receipts, shared calendars, saved destinations in map apps, and email notifications can all reveal where someone is going, when they are leaving, and where they plan to stay.

If a perpetrator still has access to a shared email account, old device, synced tablet, family calendar, booking app or cloud account, those details may be easier to see than people realise.

Before going away, it can help to check which email address receives travel confirmations and whether that email is signed in on any other devices. It is also worth reviewing whether calendars are shared, whether map apps are storing recent searches, and whether lock screen notifications may display booking details without even opening the phone.

Protective Group recommend:
• checking that travel bookings are being sent to a safe email account
• reviewing shared calendars and removing anything that reveals dates, times or locations
• signing out of old or shared devices that may still receive account notifications
• changing passwords on important accounts if there are concerns someone else may still have access
• turning off lock screen previews for emails, messages and booking notifications
• clearing recent searches in maps, rideshare and travel apps where appropriate
• being mindful that children’s devices or shared family accounts may also show plans or saved locations

For many victim-survivors, safety planning for a holiday is not only about the destination itself. It is also about limiting the digital trail that may quietly reveal movement, routine and location before the trip has even begun.

Small checks can make a meaningful difference and help keep travel plans more private.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

For parents experiencing domestic violence, one of the hardest concerns is not only what happens during contact visits, ...
03/04/2026

For parents experiencing domestic violence, one of the hardest concerns is not only what happens during contact visits, but what may travel with a child to and from the perpetrator’s home.

Children’s phones, tablets, smartwatches and other electronic devices can create hidden safety risks. In some situations, these devices may be used to monitor location, communication, routines or movements.

It is also important to think carefully about gifts coming back from the perpetrator’s home. Items such as soft toys, tablets, phones, smart devices or other electronics may sometimes be used to track, listen, or gather information without it being obvious at first.

That is why safety planning may need to include not only the child’s time away, but also the devices and belongings moving between households.

Protective Group recommend:
• where possible, think carefully before children take personal phones, tablets or other connected devices to the perpetrator’s house
• remember that the risk may not only be the device itself, but also the apps, accounts, location settings or connected features behind it
• be cautious about gifts coming back from the perpetrator’s home, especially electronic items, soft toys with technology inside, or anything unusual
• keep in mind that even ordinary-looking items may create safety concerns if they contain tracking or listening features
• if something does not feel right, trust that instinct and take concerns seriously
• include children’s devices, gifts and belongings in the same safety planning as the rest of the home and family

For many victim-survivors, protecting children is not only about where they go. It is also about what may quietly come back with them. Small details can carry hidden risks, and careful planning can make a very real difference.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

Protective Group will remain open over Easter for urgent appointments.As the Easter period approaches, Protective Group ...
02/04/2026

Protective Group will remain open over Easter for urgent appointments.

As the Easter period approaches, Protective Group would like to wish everyone a safe, peaceful and restful long weekend.

We also recognise that this time of year may be observed in different ways, and for many people it may simply be a time to rest, spend time with loved ones, or get through a difficult period as safely as possible. We send our warm thoughts to all of our clients, partners and community, whatever this weekend looks like for you.

If you suspect your friend or family member of suffering from domestic violence, offer to be on standby for their text or call through Easter.

Whether this long weekend is a celebration for you or not, we wish everyone a safe and joyful few days.

Our afterhours support continues to be available over the Easter period:

📞 1300 743 000
📧 [email protected]
💬 Live chat via our website

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

Address

Level 4, 80 Market Street
Melbourne, VIC
3205

Telephone

+611300743000

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