DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AUSTRALIA BY CHRISTOPHER GAWIDZIEL S

YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? Domestic violence, also called intimate partner violence, happens in many forms including physical, emotional and economic violence, and can affect people of any age. It does not have to be within the home to be classified as domestic violence. It is a form of violence that can occur within any relationship (family or intimate partner). Domestic violence is about power and control and there are many ways this control can be expressed.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? Physical - If someone is hurting you, or threatening to hurt you, a loved one or a pet, then you will need to take some action. Emotional - This form of violence is often unrecognised and can be very hurtful.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? Economic - Having money and being able to make decisions about it, is one means of being independent. If someone is controlling your money, keeping you financially dependent, or making you ask for money unreasonably, then this is a form of violence

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? Social – Social violence occurs in relationships that often include other forms of violence. If someone is insulting you or teasing you in front of other people, keeping you isolated from family and friends, controlling what you do and where you go, then they are being violent and you may need to take some action.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? Spiritual - This type of violence involves a situation where you are not allowed to have your own opinions about religion, cultural beliefs, and values, or your spirituality is manipulated to keep you feeling powerless.

STATISTICS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE More than a million women had experienced physical or sexual assault by their male current or ex-partner since the age of a % of women who experienced physical assault in the 12 months before the survey said the perpetrator was a current or previous male partner and 34.4% said the perpetrator was a male family member or friend. Most incidences of physical assault against women in the 12 months prior to 2005 were committed in a home (64.1%). 33.3% of women had experienced physical violence since the age of % of women had experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.. The majority of violence against men is committed by other men. Of men who reported that they had experienced physical violence in the 12 months before the survey, 73.7% said that the perpetrator was a male. Source: Department of Families, Housing and Community Affairs Fact Sheet 2 Women's Safety.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

Sourced from: The incidence of violence in Indigenous communities is disproportionately higher in comparison to the same types of violence in the Australian community as a whole Indigenous females and males were 35 and 22 times as likely to be hospitalised due to family violence-related assaults as other Australian females and males, respectively. Indigenous hospitalisation rates for family violence-related assault were highest among: females people aged 25–34 years. For Indigenous females, about one in two hospitalisations for assault (50%) were related to family violence compared to one in five for males. Most hospitalisations for family violence- related assault for females were a result of spouse or partner violence (82%) compared to 38% among males.

Sourced from: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (71%) had experienced some form of violence in their lifetime than non-Indigenous women (57%). A higher proportion of Indigenous women had experienced physical (20%) or sexual (12%) violence in the previous 12 months than non-Indigenous women (7% physical violence, 4% sexual violence).

1. Support programs (counselling, advocacy) 2. Strengthening identity programs (sport, education, arts, cultural activities, group therapy) 3. Behavioural reform programs (men’s and women’s groups) 4. Community policing and monitoring programs (night patrols, wardens) 5. Shelter/protection programs (refuges, sobering-up shelters) 6. Justice programs (community justice groups) 7. Mediation programs (dispute resolution) 8. Education programs (tertiary courses, miscellaneous courses, media) 9. Composite programs (draw upon many of the above areas). INITIATIVES TO ASSIST THE INDIGENOUS COMMUITY

END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN Forty-two percent of Indigenous young people reported witnessing violence against their mother or stepmother, compared with 23 percent of all children.

EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN depression; anxiety; trauma symptoms; increased aggression; antisocial behaviour; lower social competence; temperament problems; low self-esteem; the presence of pervasive fear; mood problems; loneliness; school difficulties; peer conflict; impaired cognitive functioning; and/or increased likelihood of substance abuse. (

WHAT CAN CHILDREN DO? CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO READ MORE ON WHAT CHILDREN CAN DO IF THEY WITNESS OR SUFFER FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SOURCE:

WOMEN ARE NOT ONLY AFFECTED

Male victims of family violence: key statistics Males are not the only perpetrators in domestic violence. Research from the 2012 ABS Personal Safety Survey and Australian Institute of Criminology shows that both men and women in Australia experience substantial levels of violence. 1 in 3 victims of current partner violence were male (33.3%) Almost 1 in 4 victims of previous partner violence were male (22.0%) Almost 1 in 3 victims of violence from a boyfriend/girlfriend or date were male (27.9%) 1 in 2 victims of violence from known persons were male (49.0%) More than 1 in 3 victims of partner emotional abuse were male (37.1%) Half these males experienced anxiety or fear due to the emotional abuse (46.1%) Statistics are sourced from:

PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Rosie Batty has set up a foundation named after her son

WHAT ARE THR ORGANISATIONS THAT CAN HELP WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

ORGANISATIONS THAT ARE THERE TO HELP White ribbon. A powerful symbol that is recognised on the 25 th of November each year to promote domestic violence.

ORGANISATIONS THAT ARE ABLE TO HELP Mary's Place Sydney Women's Refuges Pathways - Southern Highlands Vinnies Homeless Services Deniliquin People can always turn to St. Vincent De Paul with these services:

ORGANISATIONS THAT CAN HELP Anyone in immediate danger should call the police on Triple Zero (000). For information, support and referrals, call the 24 hour Domestic Violence Line on Lifeline Respect Family Relationship Advice Kids Helpline - telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. Call , 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Free confidential support for women Call WIRE Victoria-wide Mensline Australia – call and visit

ORGANISATIONS THAT CAN HELP Video came from the following:

HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS ASSISTING IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AUSTRALIA

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Re-running the successful national Violence Against Women. Australia Says No campaign Continued funding for the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse and the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault Research projects on domestic violence and sexual assault Training for nurses in regional and rural areas Training for the criminal justice sector on sexual assault Dedicated resource at the Australian Institute of Criminology Mensline

HOW MALES CAN HELP THEMSELVES THAT ARE ABUSERS Abusive men may be motivated to attend a domestic violence program for many different reasons: They may be directed by the Court to attend following a breach of a Domestic Violence Protection Order. Pressure from family, friends, employers or others to attend out of concerns about his violent behaviour. Some men choose to attend as an attempt to save their relationship believing that if they attend a program their partner will not leave them or she will return with the hope that things will improve. Some men seek to stop their violent and abusive behaviour.

HOW COMMUNITIES AND ADVERTISEMENTS GO ABOUT DOEMSTIC VIOLENCE

IT IS UP TO YOU WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LEAD A LIFE OF RESPECT? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TREAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE TO YOU?