Everyone has the right to feel safe. Unfortunately, some relationships involve behaviour that is damaging to the rest of the family. Healthy relationships are based on equality and respect between partners.
Physical violence in intimate and family relationships is a serious criminal offence and is never acceptable as a response to conflict or provocation.
Family and domestic violence can impact members of the family, even if they are not the victim of violence. Witnesses of violent events may experience trauma, especially if the witness is a child and young person.
Family and domestic violence may not always be physical. It can be:
- Control – making rules such as: who the other parent can and cannot talk to, what they can spend money on, or what they can do in their spare time
- Creating fear
- Psychical abuse – purposely hurting others by pushing, shoving or hitting
- Emotional abuse – such as name calling, putting down, or yelling.
How can family violence support services help?
- Make a plan to keep you safe
- Start working through how events have made you feel
- Learn tools to help you cope with and manage stress
- Learn ways to respond to situations in the future.
