Family violence
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Family violence (also called domestic violence) is the use of violence, threats, force or intimidation to control or manipulate a family member, partner, former partner or other person the perpetrator has a relationship with.
Acts of family violence not only include assault and physical injury, but also sexual assault, threats (direct and indirect), controlling access to money, damaging property, social isolation, emotional and psychological torment and any behaviour which causes a person to live in fear.
A person’s age, gender, sexual identity, cultural background, ability, religion, wealth, status or even location doesn’t matter – anyone can be affected by family violence.
Family violence directly affects one in five Victorian women over the course of their lifetime. It is the leading contributor to preventable death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15 to 44 years.
Information in your language
Information in your language about family
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The following services provide specialised healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.
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People with a disability who experience violence, abuse or neglect can seek help from a range of services specifically designed to help them.
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- Aboriginal health services
The following services provide specialised healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.
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Victoria has a range of services available to help people at risk of, experiencing or escaping from family violence.
- Parenting support to help prevent abuse
There is a range of non-government agencies available to help families under stress in caring for their children.
- What is family violence?
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Immediate telephone assistance is available for all kinds of emergencies.
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Help your child recover from distressing or scary experiences with these userful tips
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Reviewed on: 23-02-2022