What is Family Violence - Promoting Peace In Families Project

What is Family Violence

What is Family Violence - Promoting Peace In Families Project

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Family Violence, unfortunately, is very common and affects all layers of society. It is a pattern of behaviour where one person attempts by physical or psychological means to dominate and control the other and it can occur within a variety of close interpersonal relationships.

Currently, one in five Victorian women will experience some form of violence in their life time and intimate partner violence is the main cause of death, disability and illness for woman in Victoria aged 15 - 44 years. It has a major and lasting impact on families and everyone in our community has a role to play to stop the violence.

Family Violence occurs within a variety of close interpersonal relationships, such as between spouses, partners, parents and children, siblings, and in other  relationships where significant others are not part of the physical household but are part of the family and / or are fulfilling the function of family.   


Forms of Family Violence

Violence in relationships and families can take on a variety of forms. These can include:

Physical Abuse: includes slapping, pushing, punching, kicking, choking, throwing objects or use of weapons against a person to inflict injury. All acts of physical assault are criminal offences.

Sexual Abuse: includes a range of sexually abusive and exploitative behaviours including rape (even if you are married) - with or without use of threats or other violence being inflicted and undesirable behaviour which includes forced participation in activities involving pornography.

Emotional / Verbal Abuse: when a person constantly puts you down or criticises you, threatens to stop you from seeing your children, or threatens to commit suicide if you leave the relationship.

Social Abuse: may include preventing you from seeing your friends and family, making you feel guilty about going to work or socialising and constantly checking up on your whereabouts.

Financial Abuse: is when your partner / relative takes control of your financial affairs, or checks and rules your spending or prevents you from having access to money for essentials.

Spiritual Abuse: when a person's faith is used as a weapon to control them for the abuser's personal pleasure or gain, using religious teaching to justify abuse or compel forgiveness. Also preventing a person to worship in their desired faith community.

If you are experiencing one or more of the above, you can receive information, counselling, care and support. Please click here for more information about the Promoting Peace project and related services or contact us.

Statistics on Family Violence

• Directly affects one in five Victorian Women
• Leading contributor to preventable death, disability & illness in Victorian Women aged 15-44 yrs. (8.8% of total burden of disease)
• The City of Casey has the highest reported incidence of family violence and child protection notifications within Victoria.
• Every five days, on average a woman is killed by her partner.
• Women are more likely to be killed by a male partner or ex than by any other person.
• In the large majority of cases the offender is male and the victim female however men and children are also victims.
• Children and young people are profoundly affected by family violence, both as witnesses and victims. Between 50 - 70 of children who witness violence at home also suffer physical abuse.
• Health, Social & Economic costs, ($ 2 billion in Victoria )
• 45% of Victoria Police Work - 36% are repeat incidents
• It is estimated less than 20% of cases are reported.

(Source: Domestic Violence Resource Centre, Training 2008)

Risk Factors / Family Violence Indicators

Possible Indicators of Family Violence
This following list presents possible indicators of family violence. To effectively determine the presence of family violence, professionals from mainstream services must develop a rapport with the individual so that they feel comfortable and safe and able to respond to questions.

The victim may :

• appear nervous, ashamed or evasive
• describe their partner as controlling or prone to anger
• seem uncomfortable or anxious in the presence of their partner
• be accompanied by their partner, who does most of the talking
• give an unconvincing explanation of any injuries
• have recently separated or divorced
• be reluctant to follow advice
• suffer anxiety, panic attacks, stress and /or depression
• have a stress-related illness
• have a drug abuse problem including dependency on tranquillizers and alcohol
• have chronic headaches, asthma and / or vague aches and pains
• have abdominal pain and / or chronic diarrhoea
• complain of sexual dysfunction
• have joint and / or muscle pain
• have sleeping and / or eating disorders
• have attempted suicide and / or have a psychiatric illness
• have gynaecological problems and /or chronic pelvic pain, and / or suffered miscarriages
• have physical signs of violence such as bruising on the chest and abdomen, multiple injuries, minor cuts, injuries during pregnancy and / or ruptured eardrums
• delay seeking medical attention, and
• present with patterns of repeated injury

It is important to note that these signs and symptoms do not by themselves diagnose family violence.  In some situations and combinations, however, they may raise a suspicion of family violence, and it is therefore appropriate to ask the person about possible family violence.


Children

Children can also be victims of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect perpetrated by family members. Indicators can manifest as either physical or behavioural and can include:

• bruises, burns, sprains, dislocations, bites, cuts.
• fractured bones, especially in an infant where a fracture is unlikely to have occurred accidentally
• poisoning
• internal injuries
• showing wariness or distrust of adults
• wearing long sleeved clothes on hot days in an attempt to hide bruising or other injury
• demonstrating fear of parents and of going home
• becoming fearful when other children cry or shout
• being excessively friendly to strangers
• being very passive and compliant
• food/sleep disorders

Indicators of possible sexual abuse in children include the child:

• telling someone that sexual abuse has occurred
• complaining of headaches or stomach pains
• experiencing problems with schoolwork
• displaying sexual behaviour or knowledge unusual for the child's age
• displaying maladaptive behaviour such as frequent rocking, sucking and biting
• experiencing difficulties in sleeping, and
• having difficulties in relating to adults and peers

Indicators of possible emotional abuse in children include the child:

• displaying low self-esteem
• tending to be withdrawn, passive and / or tearful
• displaying aggressive and / or demanding behaviour
• being highly anxious
• showing delayed speech
• acting like a much younger child (eg soiling and / or wetting pants)
• displaying difficulties in relating to adults and peers

Indicators of possible neglect in children include the child:

• being frequently hungry
• being poorly nourished
• having poor hygiene
• wearing inappropriate clothing, for example, wearing summer clothes in winter
• being unsupervised for long periods
• not having its medical needs attended to
• being abandoned by its parents
• stealing food
• staying at school outside school hours
• often being tired and / or falling asleep in class
• abusing alcohol or drugs
• displaying aggressive behaviour, and
• not getting on well with peers.