about domestic and family violence

Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) refers to a pattern of behaviour that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner or family member. ​

DFV can have a significant long-lasting impact on a person’s physical and mental wellbeing. It is the leading cause of death, illness and disability for women aged under 45 and the leading cause of homelessness for women.

TYPES OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

• Physical violence means any assault on the body including but not limited to slapping, hitting, punching, pushing, choking, sleep and food deprivation, burns and use of weapons.¹ 
• Sexual violence is any form of coercion or unwanted sexual activity or sexual degradation. It includes child sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, human trafficking, image-based abuse and reproductive coercion (e.g. controlling contraception, preventing or forcing an abortion)¹
• Coercive control is often defined as a pattern of controlling behaviour, used by a perpetrator to establish and maintain control over another person. Perpetrators use coercive control to deprive another person of liberty, autonomy and agency² 
• Gaslighting is a common form of coercive control. It is a psychological manipulation in which an offender sows seeds of doubt and confusion. It causes the person to question their memory, thoughts and sanity.¹
• Psychological, mental and emotional abuse intends to destroy a person’s self-esteem and results in a person feeling humiliated, unworthy, guilty and degraded. It may include constant put-downs, offensive language, threats to commit suicide if the relationship ends, telling a person they are the primary cause of the relationship problems etc.
• Technology facilitated abuse includes using text, email or phone to abuse, monitor, humiliate or punish. It also occurs when an abuser uses technology to track or monitor your movements and messages or emails. Abusers may also threaten or distribute private or sexual photos or videos.¹
• Financial abuse includes controlling access to finances and/or making someone account for all their spending. Examples are welfare theft (taking money from Centrelink or other agencies), preventing someone from working or studying, and dowry-related abuse. Financial abuse can also continue after a separation where an abuser with-holds child support and other payments that would allow someone to maintain a separate household.¹
• Verbal abuse is the consistent demeaning of another. It may take the form of angry outbursts or of cold, calculating, consistent put-downs. It may even take the form of disparaging humour.
• Isolation intends to isolate a person from their supports, including jeopardising or destroying relationships with family and friends, constantly checking up on whereabouts, moving town or house to isolate etc.
• Stalking and harassment is when a partner or ex-partner follows or repeatedly makes contact with the person, even when it’s been made clear the relationship is over.

Key statistics on domestic and family violence

• 1 in 4 (23% or 2.3 million) women have experienced violence from an intimate partner since the age of 15³
• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner since age of 15³
• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced sexual violence since age of 15³ 
• One woman was killed every 11 days and one man was killed every 91 days by an intimate partner on average in 2022–23⁴

1. Full Stop Australia
2. Cortis and Bullen 2015; ANROWS 2021
3. ABS Personal Safety Survey 2021-22
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Domestic Homicide