I think my friend is at risk of domestic abuse
Ever had that gut feeling that your friend is in an abusive relationship or is experiencing domestic or family violence? Are you torn about what, if anything, you should do about it? Family or domestic violence is an issue that can affect anybody. It does not discriminate. Family violence includes financial control, physical abuse, sexual violence or abuse, threatening behaviour and coercive control. Victims of domestic or family violence often hide what is happening to them from other loved ones. Feelings of shame, humiliation, fear and worthlessness they are experiencing, and the patterns of family violence itself can work against victims disclosing what is happening to them or even recognising it. A victim may not be comfortable opening up. They… read more
Need for a ‘family violence toolkit’
Nearly 10% of Australian women in domestic relationships suffered family violence during the pandemic last year As revealed by a survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology This is a sobering statistic, especially in the afterglow of International Women’s Day. The lockdowns in Australia made the situation of many victims of family violence worse—victims who were trapped in their homes with their abuser. During lockdown, crisis calls to domestic violence hotlines spiked across the country. Many victims, however, were unable to ask for help because they were under constant surveillance and could not access support outside the home. The prevalence of family violence in our society, and its escalation during the health pandemic, highlights that we all need… read more