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Domestic violence is when someone in a close (usually intimate) relationship uses abusive, threatening, or controlling behaviour that makes the other person feel scared, unsafe, or powerless. This can include physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, or financial abuse. Family violence occurs where these forms of abuse are occurring in a family setting (including with kids) or between family members.
What is domestic and family violence?
What might domestic and family violence look like when it involves a child or young person?
Some examples include:
- A parent using controlling or abusive behaviours towards another parent or step-parent
- A person in a relationship with a parent or caregiver using controlling or abusive behaviours towards them
- A caregiver (including a parent, family member or carer) using controlling or abusive behaviours towards a child
- A parent or family member using controlling or abusive behaviours towards another family member
- A sibling using controlling or abusive behaviours towards a family member
- A person using controlling or abusive behaviours towards someone else living in the same house as them
- A person in a relationship with a parent or caregiver using controlling or abusive behaviours towards a child
- A child using controlling or abusive behaviours towards a parent or family member
Domestic and family violence is not just physical abuse
Some people think that domestic and family violence only occurs when there is physical abuse or physical violence against a person (for example, hitting or kicking someone). However, domestic and family violence can come in many different forms and other types of abuse, like emotional abuse, can be just as harmful as physical abuse.
Power and Control Wheel
This power and control wheel from the Alison-Baden Clay Foundation provides some examples of what abuse can look like for young people.
See more of the different types of abuse below.
*Click the wheel to spin
Physical Abuse
- Hitting
- Punching
- Slapping
- Kicking
- Pushing
What are some common types of abuse in domestic and family violence?
- Throwing objects at body
- Using weapons
- Driving recklessly
- Choking
- Burning
Emotional Abuse
- Name-calling
- Constant negative criticism
- Guilt-tripping
- Blackmailing
- Belittling
- Threatening
- Rejecting ideas/thoughts constantly
- Gaslighting
- Bullying
- Deliberately embarrassing someone
Sexual Abuse
- Inappropriate touching
- Unwanted sexual activity
- Violent sexual activity
- Unwanted kissing or touching
- Rape
- Attempted rape
- Refusing to use protection
- Blackmailing into sexual activities
- Taking photographs of someone's private parts
- Isolating from friends/family
- Spreading false rumours
- Preventing socialisation
- Controlling who someone can see - Preventing someone from working
Social Abuse
- Sharing lies about partner
- Controlling social media
- Stopping contact with family
- Withholding financial support
- Destroying or stealing property
What can you do if you are experiencing abuse?
If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
Tell someone you trust.
Get to a safe place.
Reach out for help.
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