WHAT IS FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Family and domestic violence is a crime in Australia. Nobody - women, children, elderly or men deserve violence. Learn how to identify the different types of abuse, and how to keep yourself or someone you know safe.
If you believe that you may be experiencing domestic violence support is available.
 
Family and domestic violence is not just physical abuse. It can be emotional, psychological, financial, sexual or other types of behavior that exert power and control:

Violence
This can include, but is not limited to:
  • swearing and frequent humiliation in private or in public
  • attacks that focus on intelligence, sexuality, body image and capacity as a parent or partner
  • putting someone down

Psychological
This can include, but is not limited to:
  • driving dangerously
  • destruction of property
  • abuse of pets in front of family members
  • making threats regarding custody of any children
  • making threats regarding cancellation of visas
  • claiming that the police and justice system will not assist, support or believe the victim
  • threatening to ‘out’ the person’s sexuality, intersex or gender
 
Emotional
This can include, but is not limited to:
  • blaming the victim for all problems in the relationship
  • constantly comparing the victim with others to undermine self-esteem and self-worth
  • handling guns or other weapons in front of the victim or other family members
  • emotional blackmail and suicidal threats
  • threats to harm oneself, pets, children or other family members
 
Social
This can include, but is not limited to:
  • isolation from family and friends through for e.g. ongoing rudeness towards them
  •  moving to a location where the victim has no established social circle or employment opportunities
  • monitor or control use of the car or telephone or internet
  • physically preventing the victim from going out and meeting people.
 
Financial
This can include, but is not limited to:
  • control of all money
  • restricting access to bank accounts
  • not allowing someone to seek or have a job
  • using all wages earned by the victim for household expenses
  • controlling the victim’s pension
  • denying that the victim has an entitlement to joint property
 
Physical
This can include, but is not limited to:
  • physical assault on the body e.g. strangulation or choking, shaking, eye injuries, punching, kicking etc.
  • locking the victim in or out of the house
  • forcing the victim to take drugs, refusing medication, food or medical care
  • sleep deprivation
 
Sexual
This can include, but is not limited to:
  • any form of pressured/unwanted sex or sexual degradation by an intimate partner or ex-partner, such as sexual activity without consent
  • forcing someone to watch explicit material against their will
  • causing pain during sex
  • assaulting genitals
  • coercive sex without protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection
  • making someone perform sexual acts unwillingly
  • taking photos or distributing them without the subject’s consent
  • criticising or using sexually degrading insults
 
Harassment and stalking
This can include, but is not limited to:
  • following and watching
  • monitoring someone’s movements
  • sending harassing text messages or getting someone else to do it
  • telephone and online harassment
  • tracking with GPS or through social media or online interactions
  • being intimidating

Spiritual Abuse
  • spiritual abuse is sometimes called religious abuse
  • It happens when someone uses spiritual or religious beliefs to hurt, scare or control you
  • Spiritual abuse can be a form of domestic violence.

WHERE CAN I GET HELP?

  •  In an emergency, call 000 and stay on the line with them
  • Call the police on 131 444
  • Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 007 339
  • Multicultural Women’s Advocacy Service on (08) 9328 1200 or Toll-Free: 1800 998 399
           MWAS promotes the safety of women, with or without children, from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds. The service is available               to women who are recent arrivals or long-term residents.



HOW CAN WE HELP?

​The Muslim Women’s Support Centre acts as a referral hub which can assist women facing Family and Domestic Violence in the following ways. We can Assist you in the following ways
 
  • Information and Referral to housing, legal assistance, Centrelink and seeking Financial Assistance
  • Material Support eg, Food Assistance
  • Free Access to Counselling
  • Referral to a Religious Scholar.
  • Provide a confidential and supportive women’s only environment