What is Family Violence?

This page will help you understand what family violence means. It’s a pattern of behavior, not isolated incidents, where one person uses abuse to control another in a family or close relationship.

What is Family Violence?

Family violence is a pattern of behaviour where one person tries to dominate and control the other. Not all family violence is physical- it can be about controlling another person’s actions, appearance, finances and social interactions too. You can find out about that in our resources about coercive control: Understanding Coercive Control- Simple English Guide for Migrant and Refugee Women.

Examples of family violence

  • Emotional abuse
  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Verbal abuse
  • Financial abuse
  • Psychological abuse

Examples of family violence behaviours

  • Feeling scared in your own home
  • Your partner threatening to cancel your visa and send you back home
  • Being called names or being spoken to in a cruel or offensive way
  • Your partner or family member controlling where you go and who you go with
  • Not being allowed to have your own money
  • Someone checking your phone, or stopping you from talking to friends and family
  • Threatening to take your children away from you, or hurt them
  • Physically harming you
  • Making you do sexual things you do not want to do

Safety & Support Resources

This section provides links to vital resources that can offer immediate safety, support, and information if you are experiencing family violence. Please know that you are not alone, and help is available.

Safe Steps

24 hour crisis line and emergency accommodation for people experiencing family violence in Victoria offering confidential and compassionate assistance to individuals in high-risk situations.

Safe Steps

Safe + Equal

Victoria’s peak body for specialist family violence services. Resources for understanding family violence, training, policy and advocacy, links to further support services.

Safe + Equal

1800RESPECT

Australia-wide support help and support for people experiencing, or at risk of family violence

1800 RESPECT

CASA House

Crisis response and ongoing care for people who have experienced a recent sexual assault

CASA House

No to Violence

NTV works with men who use violence, providing support to change behaviour, particularly through their Men’s Referral Service helpline

No to Violence

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)

Support, advice and resources for refugees in Australia, including employment services and a food bank.

ASRC

Rainbow Door

Support and referrals for LGBTIAQ+ Victorians experiencing issues including mental health, wellbeing, family or intimate partner violence.

Rainbow Door

Health Translations

A free online library of high-quality translated Australian health and wellbeing information in over 130 languages.

Health Translations

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