How Do You Define Family Violence in Australia?
Family violence in Australia is defined as any behaviour that makes you feel controlled, unsafe, scared, or intimidated within a family or domestic relationship.
It isn’t limited to physical harm. It includes emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, social, and technology-facilitated abuse. If someone’s behaviour affects your sense of freedom, wellbeing, or safety, it can fall under family violence under Australian law.
Understanding How Family Violence Is Defined in Australia
In Australia, family violence is recognised as a broad pattern of behaviour, not just isolated incidents. The law focuses on how someone’s actions impact your autonomy, your emotional stability, and your ability to live without fear.
You don’t need evidence of physical injuries for behaviour to be considered family violence. What matters is whether someone’s conduct causes fear, forces you to act against your will, or undermines your independence.
This recognition allows you to seek protection even when the abuse isn’t visible, and even if the person harming you is a partner, ex-partner, parent, adult child, or another family member. If you’re unsure about your legal options, speaking with a DVO lawyer can help you understand the steps available to protect your safety.
Key takeaway: Family violence is defined by its impact on your safety and freedom, not just by physical acts.
Types of Behaviour Considered Family Violence
Family violence can take many forms. You might be dealing with only one type, or a combination of different behaviours over time. These behaviours may escalate slowly, making them harder to identify at first.
Physical Abuse
This includes any behaviour that causes harm or threatens to cause harm to your body. It may involve hitting, pushing, choking, or using objects or weapons.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
If someone constantly insults you, blames you for things you didn’t do, humiliates you, manipulates you, or makes you doubt your own judgement, it may be considered emotional or psychological abuse.
This form of violence can damage your confidence and sense of self.
Financial Abuse
You may be experiencing financial abuse if someone restricts your access to money, controls your spending, hides assets, prevents you from working, or forces you to hand over your pay. This type of behaviour takes away your independence and ability to make personal choices.
Social Abuse
This is when someone restricts who you can see or speak to. It can involve monitoring your friendships, preventing you from contacting family, or isolating you from the community.
Sexual Abuse
Any unwanted or forced sexual activity is sexual violence. This includes pressure, coercion, or intimidation, even within an ongoing relationship.
Cultural or Spiritual Abuse
This can involve preventing you from practising your beliefs, misusing cultural or religious traditions to control you, or using your identity as a weapon against you.
Technology-Facilitated Abuse
Abuse can also occur through digital means. Someone may track your location, monitor your phone, control your online accounts, or use threats through messaging platforms.
Key takeaway: Family violence takes many forms, and you may be experiencing it even without any physical harm.
Who Can Be Affected by Family Violence?
Family violence can occur in many types of relationships. You might be experiencing it in a marriage, de facto relationship, same-sex relationship, or after a separation.
It also extends to harm caused by a parent, adult child, sibling, or extended family member. In some cases, it includes behaviour by a carer or someone you depend on for support.
The definition is intentionally broad so that you can seek help regardless of the structure of your family. Whether you’re co-parenting, living apart, or dealing with pressures within a household, the law recognises behaviour that threatens your safety.
Key takeaway: Family violence can occur in any family relationship, not just intimate partnerships.
How Australian Law Approaches Family Violence
Family violence laws in Australia are designed to protect your safety and wellbeing. Courts look at patterns of behaviour rather than one-off arguments. They consider the long-term impact on your psychological health, your ability to make choices, and the environment in which children are raised in.
If you’re experiencing family violence, you may be able to apply for a protection order. These orders can prevent the person from contacting you, coming near you, damaging your belongings, or engaging in other harmful behaviours. They are there to give you space, security, and legal backing if the behaviour continues.
The law also recognises the impact of family violence on children. Even if children don’t directly witness the behaviour, living in an unsafe environment can affect their well-being.
Key takeaway: The law focuses on patterns of harmful behaviour and offers protective measures to help keep you and your children safe.
Recognising the behaviour is the first step. You deserve to feel safe in your own home and in your relationships. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s worth paying attention to your instincts.
There are services across Australia that can help you understand your options, offer counselling, assist with safety planning, and support you if you decide to leave or take legal action.
