If you or someone else is in danger call 000.
Violence or abuse is not your fault. Anyone can experience domestic and family violence or abuse.
What does domestic and family violence involve?
Domestic and family violence is when someone is controlling or hurting you. This can include one or more of:
Emotional
Putting you down, yelling and swearing, making threats and scaring you.
Financial
Controlling money, stops you using your money, or stealing your money.
Physical
Pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping or threatening to do those things.
Sexual
Touching or doing things you don’t want them to do.
Stalking
Following you or tracking you with calls, texts and other devices.
There are other ways someone could be using violent or abusive behaviour towards you. It is OK to ask for help.
Who is affected by domestic and family violence?
All types of violence are serious. Many people who experience domestic violence will never experience physical violence. It can be done by:
- Your partner, husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend
- Your ex-partner, ex-husband. ex-wife, ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
- Your LGBTIQA+ relationships
- Your family member, kin, or someone like a family member
- A carer, like a support worker
No one has the right to hurt you or make you feel unsafe.
What forms can domestic and family violence take?
Warnings signs that you are experiencing domestic and family violence:
- Feeling scared and frightened of the person (even sometimes)?
- Feeling like you are 'walking on eggshells'?
- Feeling like you never know what will 'set them off'?
- The person says you are not a good person or worthless.
- The person says they will or does hurt you, your children or animals.
Help is available now
Contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or through their online chat via the 1800RESPECT website for confidential counselling, information, support and referral.
You can also use Ask Izzy to find a legal service near you.