Creating an escape plan is a crucial part of ensuring your safety, and deciding what to take with you when leaving can be an emotionally challenging process. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, so consider reaching out to someone for support if needed.

An escape bag is a pre-packed bag containing essential items that you may need if you and your children (if applicable) need to leave your home quickly. Having this bag ready will allow you to depart swiftly and safely.

What to Pack:

Identification:

• Originals are ideal, but copies are better than nothing.
  • Driver’s license
  • Pension or healthcare card
  • Medicare and Centrelink cards
  • Birth certificates (yours and your children’s)
  • Passports (yours and your children’s)
  • Children’s immunisation records
  • Immigration papers
  • Proof of address (e.g., rates notice, utility bill)
  • Bank statements

Tip: Store photos of documents in a secure area of your phone, separate from the main photo album (e.g., in the PDF section of the Books app on an iPhone).

Legal Documents:

• Marriage certificate
• Restraining order
• Car registration papers
• Insurance policies
• Medical records (for you and your children)
• School records (for your children)
• Share/securities documents
• Last Will and Testament
• Any other court orders

Financial Items:

• Bank account details or copies of statements
• Purse, credit cards in your name, and cash
• Lease agreement or mortgage papers
• Tax, employment, or income documents
• Sentimental jewelry (consider storing with a trusted friend or relative ahead of time)
• Certificate of title for any property you own

Additional Essentials:

• Spare house keys
• Medication
• Spare mobile phone (with a prepaid SIM card not traceable to you) and charger
• List of important phone numbers (in case you can’t take your phone):
  • Family, friends
  • Insurance
  • Work
  • School
  • Doctor
  • Lawyer
  • Crisis accommodation
• Change of clothes for you and your children, including shoes
• Nappies, baby formula, bottles, baby food, dummy (if needed)
• Recent photo of the person using violence (for identification purposes)
• Personal care items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hairbrush, etc.)
• A favorite toy for each child
• Diary of abuse, if kept

Tips for Packing:

• Begin collecting items gradually, starting with small things that are unlikely to be missed, such as passports, photos, and IDs.
• Consider where to hide your escape bag. You might entrust it to a friend or family member, or hide it in creative places like:
  • Inside game boxes
  • Under the soles of your shoes
  • In the spare tire compartment of your car
  • Under the back seat in your car
  • In the roof cavity of your house

Important: If you leave and need to return later to retrieve your belongings, you can request police assistance. Never put your safety at risk to retrieve property or possessions.

Important Contact Information:

• National Shelter Movement of South Africa: 0800 428 428
• Send a “Please Call Me” by dialing: 1207867#
• SMS ‘help’ to: 31531
• GBV Command Centre: 0800 150 150
• WhatsApp: 083 222 5164