What is: family violence?

Family violence is when someone in a family tries to control other family members. This can include behaviour which:

  • Is physically abusive
  • Is sexually abusive
  • Is emotionally or psychologically abusive (name calling, criticising, put downs, stalking)
  • Threatens or intimidates
  • Forces people to do things they don’t want to do (where they feel uncomfortable or are at risk of harm – does not include things like visiting relatives or going to school!!)
  • Controls and dominates family members in any other way that makes them feel afraid for their own safety, or for someone else’s safety
  • Is spiritually abusive
  • Prevents a person from accessing their basic human rights
  • Causes a child to be exposed to any of these behaviours.

Family violence is also called domestic violence. It can happen:

  • Between people in a relationship
  • Between parents
  • Between siblings (brothers and sisters)
  • To children, by an adult (this is child abuse)
  • To parents by their children (parent abuse)
  • To a person with a disability by their carer

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For more information

For more information about this or to contact the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault go to the SECASA website.