Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Read this article to learn about what violence might look like and what different types of violence are.

You will also find out what you can do to protect yourself and how to help others.

Right to healthy and respectful relationships

  • You have the right to be treated with respect in your relationship with your partner and all family and friends in your life.
  • Healthy relationships are based on kindness and caring for one another, shared decision-making and responsibilities.
  • Healthy relationships never have physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or violence.
  • Having a partner that is controlling and coercive is also abuse.
    • Being coercive means when someone forces or threats someone else into doing something.

Domestic violence

  • Domestic violence can also be called family violence or intimate partner violence.
    • Anyone can commit domestic violence, including:
      • Your husband or wife or any person that you live with (e.g. siblings, cousins etc.)
      • Adult children
      • Parents or mother/father-in-law
      • Other senior people in your community (e.g. community elders, aunties, uncles, grandparents etc.)

Domestic violence is a crime in Australia and you can go to jail if you commit it.

Information for these pages was sourced from: 1800 RESPECT, Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault

Types of Violence

  • People can be violent towards others in many different ways.
    • There are different types of violence discussed below but this list may not include all types.
    • You can ask for help if you live with fear or violence.
    • You have a right to feel safe and protected and free from violence or manipulation.
      • Manipulation is when someone controls you or your behaviour for their own advantage.
  • If you or someone you know is in danger call the police on 000.
    • Police in Australia are safe and can be trusted.
    • If your visa sponsor is committing violence against you, it is still safe to call the police.
    • For free, confidential counselling and information call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
    • If you need a free interpreter call 131 450.

Everyone has the right to be safe. Everyone has the same legal protections against violence, no matter what your religion, culture, age, ability, sexual orientation and ethnicity.

VIDEO: Healthy Relationships

Physical Violence

When someone uses a part of their body or an object to control another person’s actions.

Examples may include:

  • Using physical force, which results in pain, injury or discomfort
  • Hitting, pushing, punching, burning, kicking and biting
  • Assaulting or threatening with a weapon or other objects

Video: Break the cycle of family violence (Pasefika Proud)

Sexual Violence

When a person is forced to take part in sexual activities, even if they don’t want to.

Examples include:

  • Touching someone in a sexual way, without the person agreeing (for example kissing or grabbing)
  • Forcing someone to have sex (this is known as rape)
  • Forcing a person to do any type of sexual activity
  • Making inappropriate jokes or sexual comments that the other person will not like
  • Forcing someone to do sex work
  • Discriminating because of sexuality
  • Denying a person’s sexuality or their right to not talk about their sexuality
  • Exposing a person to HIV or AIDS or any other sexually transmitted infection on purpose

Sexual Assault Crisis Line

1800 RESPECT

Psychological Violence

When someone uses threats or fear control someone else.

Examples include:

  • Threatening to hurt your family
  • Threats of being left alone
  • Verbal aggression, saying mean things like bullying
  • Not allowing to the person to use a telephone or to make decisions
  • Stalking or criminal harassment
  • Pressuring the person to do things they do not want to do, for example:
    • Sign legal documents
    • Move out of home or country
    • Make or change health decisions

Emotional Violence

When someone says or does something that makes a person feel worthless or stupid.

Examples violence:

  • Name calling
  • Not allowing the person to contact their family or friends
  • Making fun of the person, joking at their expense
  • Intimidating the person, causing fear
  • Threatening to leave the person
  • Threatening to have the person deported

Verbal Violence

When a person uses language to hurt another person.

Examples include:

  • Yelling, lying, insulting, swearing or name-calling.
  • Threatening violence against the person or the person’s family
  • Withholding important information.
  • Telling a person that he or she is worthless, stupid or anything else that upsets the person
  • Using social media to do any of the above

Financial Violence

When someone is controlling a person’s financial resources without the person’s consent.

Examples include:

  • Not allowing a person to have an education, not attend school
  • Controlling a person’s choice of work
  • Illegally using a person’s money or property in any way
  • Forging, copying, signature
  • Opening mail without permission
  • Destroying personal property
  • Not allowing the person access to bank accounts, savings or other income or money
  • Forcing a person to buy something or give their money away

Spiritual and Religious Violence

When someone uses a person’s spiritual or religious beliefs to control or manipulate the person.

Examples include:

  • Not allowing the person to follow his or her preferred spiritual or religious tradition
  • Forcing a path or practice on another person
  • Making fun of someone’s traditions, beliefs or practices

Neglect

When someone has the responsibility to provide care or assistance for a person but does not do it.

Examples include:

  • Failing to meet the needs of a person such as:
    • Food and drink
    • Shelter
    • Clean clothes and linens
    • Social relations
  • Not staying with a person who needs help
    • This might be in an emergency or non emergency setting
  • Medical neglect can includes
    • Ignoring special food requirements
    • Not giving a person the medication they need
    • Not knowing the possible negative effects of medications

Support and Counselling

There are many organisations that can help and most will be able to connect you to the following

  • Counsellors
    • to talk about your problem
  • Case workers
    • to help you make decisions about what you want and how to be safe
  • Lawyers
    • if you need help to go to police, court or with your visa
  • Shelter and housing
    • if you want to leave your home
  • Services will listen to you and talk about different choices
    • you can make choices that are right for you and will be supported no matter what decision you make.

In Touch provide free confidential advice and help in your own language.

They have helped many women in your situation. They will make sure that you and your children are safe.

For a free and confidential service, you can contact us: Phone: 03 9413 6500 Toll free: 1800 755 988 http://www.intouch.org.au/get-help/

Links:

Last reviewed: Jun 2022