FAMILY VIOLENCE

Family violence means violent, threatening or other behaviour by a person that coerces or controls a member of the person’s family or causes the family member to be fearful.

A child is exposed to family violence if the child sees or hears family violence or otherwise experiences the effects of family violence. Examples of behaviour that may constitute family violence include (but are not limited to):

  • an assault; or
  • a sexual assault or other sexually abusive behaviour; or
  • stalking; or
  • repeated derogatory taunts; or
  • intentionally damaging or destroying property; or
  • intentionally causing death or injury to an animal; or
  • unreasonably denying the family member the financial autonomy that he or she would otherwise have had; or
  • unreasonably withholding financial support needed to meet the reasonable living expenses of the family member, or his or her child, at a time when the family member is entirely or predominantly dependent on the person for financial support; or
  • preventing the family member from making or keeping connections with his or her family, friends or culture; or
  • unlawfully depriving the family member, or any member of the family member’s family, or his or her liberty.

Examples of situations that may constitute a child being exposed to family violence include (but are not limited to) the child:

  • overhearing threats of death or personal injury by a member of the child’s family towards another member of the child’s family; or
  • seeing or hearing an assault of a member of the child’s family by another member of the child’s family; or
  • comforting or assisting a member of the child’s family who has been assaulted by another member of the child’s family; or
  • cleaning up a site after a member of the child’s family has intentionally damaged property of another member of the child’s family; or
  • being present when police or ambulance officers attend an incident involving the assault of a member of the child’s family by another member of the child’s family.

Common forms of violence in families include:

  • spouse/partner abuse (violence among adult partners and ex-partners)
  • child abuse/neglect (abuse/neglect of children by an adult)
  • parental abuse (violence perpetrated by a child against their parent), and
  • sibling abuse (violence between siblings).

If you think you have been exposed to family violence, we recommend you immediately get help before proceeding with this program as it may not be suitable for you.

Contact: 1800RESPECT
1800 737 732
www.1800respect.org.au