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Groups at risk of harm from Domestic Violence are: Abused Spouse: This person is in directly the most harmful position. Both physically and emotionally they are under attack, and will doubtless suffer long-term scars of their experience. Abused Children: Sometimes the abusive persons children find themselves in the firing line. This is particularly damaging to their perception of their father/mother, and tends to traumatise them. Witnessing Children: Children who observe their parents fighting are upset enough, but to witness either acute emotional or physical violence is to be damaged. Later life may be effected when these children grow up, they may find themselves unable to ever enter into a fully healthy and trusting relationship. Costs (Individual Emotional/Psychological To the family Community Government) Individual costs can be: When thinking about what you can do in a DV situation it is important to know: People who use abusive behaviours are responsible for their own behaviour 1.Think about where you would go/turn to if an emergency happened. 2.Find fast access to a phone. 3.Carry necessary numbers with you. 000 for police attendance. 4.Try to put aside some flight money. 5.Have an extra set of car/house keys. 6.If you have children talk to them, reassure them and teach them what to do in an emergency. 7.Keep copies of financial/legal pages. Gather some sentimental things etc. 8.Keep (4), (5), (7) packed ready. 9.Let a trusted friend know your safety plan and how they can help you. Here are some definitions of Domestic Violence: "Domestic violence occurs when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate or harm the other. Domestic violence can be exhibited in many forms, including physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, economic deprivation or threats of violence. Domestic violence occurs in all geographic areas of Australia and in all socio-economic and cultural groups, although domestic violence is a more significant problem for certain groups, such as regional and rural Australia and Indigenous communities." - Commonwealth's Partnership against Domestic Violence "The forceful, controlling behaviour that coerces a victim to do what the abuser wants without regard to her/his rights, body, health or emotions."- The Alle-Kiski HOPE Centre "Domestic violence is physical, sexual, psychological or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and that forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour." - Women's Aid Domestic Abuse The different types of Domestic Abuse are emotional, psychological, sexual and physical. Emotional Abuse includes hurting another person's feelings by: Saying cruel, unfair comments, name calling, swearing and/or screaming, repeated harassment, interrogation or degradation, attacks on self-esteem, attacks on other loved ones, threatening to "come out for you" at work or to your family, controlling or limiting your behavior, interrupting you while you are eating, forcing you to stay awake or to get up from sleep, blaming you for everything that goes wrong, forcing you to do degrading things (e.g.: making you kneel, making you beg for money), intimidating you, criticizing your opinions and feelings, treating you like a servant, being extremely jealous, constantly accusing you of flirting or of cheating, spitting at or near you, using money to control you, telling you that you are "sick" and need therapy, using physical disabilities against you or putting you down for your disability. Psychological Abuse is any threat to do bodily harm to a partner, a child, a family member, friends, pets, or one's self (suicide). The purpose of psychological abuse is to render you emotionally insecure about your own self-worth and to render you helpless and/or not able to escape further physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse. Some examples are: threatening to punch, hit, slap or kick, threatening to use a weapon, threatening to harm him/her-self if you leave, threatening to punish children to "get back" at you, threatening to harm pets, throwing objects in your direction, vague threats such as: "You're going to get it," or "I'm really going to let you have it" , harming a pet to "get back" at you, smashing and breaking things, throwing objects around the room, punching walls, slamming doors, hiding, stealing or destroying your possessions, sabotaging your car, any emotional abuse which in the past was a prelude to physical or sexual abuse. Sexual Abuse is any non-consenting sexual act or behavior. Examples include your partner forcing sexual activity when: You indicate "no", you are sleeping, you are drunk or high and are unable to say "no", you are afraid to say "no", your partner insists that you dress in a more sexy manner when you dont want to, your partner makes demeaning remarks about your body and/or body parts and minimizes your feelings about sex, your partner berates you about your sexual history; blames you if you were sexually abused in the past or as a child, criticizes you sexually, insists on touching you sexually when you do not want to be touched, either when the two of you are alone or in the presence of others, calls you a whore or a slut, physically attacking sexual parts of your body, forcing you to perform any specific sexual act that you do not wish to do. Physical Abuse is any forceful or violent physical behaviour. Examples include: Slapping, choking, punching, kicking, pinching, pushing, shoving, biting, spanking, scratching, grabbing, throwing bodily, burning, restraining, spitting. Web Search Having recognised abuse, it may be useful to find specific information. Find contact numbers for: Counselling/ support groups: 1800 787 3224: National Domestic Violence Hotline. Provides non-emergency advice. 6280 0900: ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service 62 8000 900: Canberra Domestic Violence Crisis Service. Provides counselling and mediation with the police to help the situation. 1800 019 116: Domestic Violence Help Crisis Line: Quickly provides police help. 6207 2331: ACT Student Support Services. Provides counselling for students who are witnessing domestic violence in their household. 6295 598: Conflict Resolution Centre. Provides mediation. Protection/Legal options: 1800 817 227: WIRS womens information and referral service. Provides legal help. 6217 4444: ACT Magistrates court. Strong legal advice and help in getting adequate representation. 131 444: ACT Federal Police. Quick response if violence escalates. 62 8000 900: Canberra Domestic Violence Crisis Service. Provides counselling and mediation with the police to help the situation. 6217 4299: Legal Aid. Provides subsidised representation and legal advice. Alternative housing: (08) 9223 1111: Provides crisis housing. (08) 8981 5928: Advice on what Womens refuge is most appropriate. Health issues: (02) 6207 7777: Health First. 24 Hour first aid advice. (02) 6207 9900000 (emergency) 000 (non-emergency): Ambulance (02) 6244 2222: Canberra Hospital (02) 6201 6111: Calvary Public Hospital Concerns for children: 131 444: ACT Federal Police. Quick response if violence escalates. 1800 55 1800: Kids Help Line. Counselling, avaliable 24 hours. Financial entitlement: 202-745-1211 : NCADV Financial advice. Subsidised financial legal claims. www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/SP/Dom_violence.htm www.mja.com/public/issues/173_07_021000/hegarty/hegarty.htm http://www.guidetopsychology.com/famlytx.htm http://www.gwinnettcourts.com/division/domestic.htm ACT government pamphlets: What do you do when she comes to you? Relationships Quiz Domestic Violence Crisis Services
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