We know that anyone can be impacted by family violence.
However, we also know that in the vast majority of situations family violence is committed by men against women and boorai.
When we think of family violence, or family abuse, we probably think about physical abuse.
But family abuse can actually take a number of different forms, which can be equally harmful.
If you are interested in talking to people who provide support for mob impacted by family violence, or people who are going through it themselves, please come to “Empowering Voices – Eat, Yarn, Heal” at GEGAC tomorrow, Tuesday, November 26 from 12 – 3pm.
Types of Family Abuse
Physical Abuse
Includes any actual or threatened physical attack on someone, smashing or throwing things, using intimidating body language, following someone, driving a vehicle with someone else in the car, or physical neglect of someone reliant on care.
Emotional Abuse
Includes insults and put downs, deliberately undermining someone’s confidence, threatening self-harm, or harm to the victim, ridiculing, rejecting or shaming someone, or making someone feel guilty.
Sexual Abuse
Includes any actual or threatened sexual contact without consent, pressuring someone to agree to sex, unwanted touching of sexual or private parts, threatening to share private photographs, or expecting someone to have sex as a form of reconciliation after using violence against them.
Social Abuse
Includes behaviour that limits, controls or interferes with someone’s social activities or relationships with others. Social abuse can include excessive questioning, monitoring movements and social communications, preventing someone from having contact with family or friends, spreading rumours, or forced marriage.
Financial Abuse
This includes taking someone’s money, preventing access to household funds, excluding someone from financial decisions that impact them, stopping someone from earning their own money, selling someone’s possessions or incurring debts in someone’s name.
Spiritual Abuse
Behaviour that denigrates someone’s religious or spiritual beliefs, including ridiculing or putting down someone’s beliefs and culture, or preventing someone from taking part in a group or ceremony.
Helplines
If you are in immediate danger, call 000 for Police and Ambulance help
Djirra 1800 105 303
Support for all Aboriginal people who are experiencing family violence
13 Yarn 13 92 76
National crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping.
1800Respect 1800 737 732
24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Helpline for anyone experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide.