What is Domestic and Family Violence?

Domestic and Family Violence can include any behaviours used by one person to establish and maintain power and control over their partner or another person in his/her family, including:

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Including direct assaults on the body, use of weapons, driving dangerously, destruction of property, abuse of family pets, assault of children, locking the victims out of the house, purposely depriving a victim of sleep

SEXUAL ABUSE

Any form of forced sex or sexual degradation, such as sexual activity without consent, causing pain during sex, assaulting genitals, coercive sex without protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease, making the victim perform sexual acts unwillingly, criticising or using sexually degrading insults.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

Blaming the victim for all problems in the relationship, constantly comparing the victim with others to undermine self-esteem and self-worth, sporadic sulking, withdrawing all interest and engagement (e.g. weeks of silence).

VERBAL ABUSE

Continual ‘put-downs’ and humiliation, either privately or publicly, with attacks following clear themes that focus on intelligence, sexuality, body image and capacity as a parent and spouse.

SOCIAL ABUSE

Systematic isolation from family and friends through techniques such as ongoing rudeness to family and friends, moving to locations where the victim knows nobody, and forbidding or physically preventing the victim from going out and meeting people.

ECONOMIC ABUSE

Complete control of all monies, no access to bank accounts, providing only an inadequate ‘allowance’, using any wages earned by the victim for household expenses.

SPIRITUAL ABUSE

Denying access to ceremonies, land or family, preventing religious observance, forcing victims to do things against their beliefs, denigration of cultural background, or using religious teachings or cultural tradition as a reason for violence.

ELDER ABUSE

Elder abuse is when a person causes harm or distress to an older person who has a relationship of trust with them – like an adult child, their partner or a carer.

It can be a type of domestic and family violence, and can include physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, social abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

COERCIVE CONTROL

‘a course of conduct aimed at dominating and controlling another’ (ANROWS, 2021).