What is Family and
Domestic Violence?

Understanding
Family and
Domestic Violence

Family and domestic violence is any behaviour that causes physical, emotional, or psychological harm to someone within a family or intimate relationship. It includes controlling behaviour, threats, and isolation.

Some of the types of family and domestic violence that we see and you may experience include:

Restricting your access to money.
Stopping you from working.
Controlling who you see or socialise with.
Restricting your access to devices.
Tracking your movements.
Threatening your safety or that of your children, pets or belongings.
Someone threatening to harm themselves if you do or don’t do something.
Physically harming or threatening you.

Family and domestic violence can affect anyone. It happens to people of all ages, genders and identities and people of all cultures. It’s never acceptable. Everyone deserves safety and respect.

Types of Abuse Safety Planning Early Warning Signs

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Hear how others have supported loved ones to safety.

Who Experiences Family and Domestic Violence?

Family and domestic violence affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Whether through physical, emotional, or financial abuse, anyone can be impacted. Understanding how family and domestic violence affects people differently is essential for providing the right support and services. Learn more about the experiences of those affected by family and domestic violence and how Safe Steps can help.

Women

Women are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence, experiencing physical, emotional, financial abuse and coercive control from current and former partners.

We know that in Australia, domestic and family violence contributes to more death, disability, and illness in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor. At Safe Steps we understand that fear, isolation and controlling partners are often key barriers preventing women from seeking help.

Safe Steps offers immediate support for all women experiencing family and domestic violence and are available 24/7 to help women find safety and navigate their options to live free of violence.

People with Disabilities

People with disabilities may face additional forms of abuse, including neglect, financial control, gaslighting and dependency manipulation. They often encounter significant barriers to accessing support services because of communication challenges, difficulty in understanding processes or a lack of accessible services.

We provide tailored support to ensure people with disabilities can access the help they need.

Young People

Safe Steps also provides support and services for young people (18 to 25 yrs) who are victims of family and domestic violence and are seeking help. This support may be while accompanied by a parent or guardian or provided separately.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Safe Steps affirms respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ self-determination and recognises the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people in responding to family violence.

At Safe Steps we’re committed to walking alongside First Nation victim-survivors of family and domestic violence. We acknowledge that there are often
multiple barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander help-seekers accessing services and we’re committed to providing culturally responsive services to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who access our services.

Culturally / Linguistically Diverse (CALD)

Over a quarter of Safe Steps callers are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Our Family Violence Crisis Specialists provide culturally sensitive support to help individuals from all backgrounds access safety and culturally appropriate supports.

Our team speak more than a dozen languages and understands the cultural sensitivities faced by culturally and linguistically diverse help-seekers experiencing family and domestic violence.

LGBTIQA+ Community

Safe Steps provides support for LGBTIQA+ people experiencing family or domestic violence. As part of our recent Rainbow Tick accreditation process, our staff are fully trained to provide a culturally safe space for LGBTIQA+ community members calling to share their experiences and seek safety.

Our Family Violence Crisis Specialists have a comprehensive understanding of the intersecting discrimination that can impact LGBTIQA+ community members experiencing violence and abuse.

Rural & Remote Victorians

Safe Steps provides support for all Victorians including people in rural and remote areas. Safe Steps works closely with local family violence services throughout the State and is able provide 24/7 crisis support for anyone needing help.

People Aged 65+

Elder abuse is a form of family and domestic violence that can include financial exploitation, neglect, or emotional manipulation by family members or
caregivers.

Older adults may be isolated or dependent on their abusers, making it harder to seek help. We provide specialised support for older individuals experiencing family and domestic violence.

Children

Children experience family and domestic violence directly and have their own experience of the many forms of family violence abuse. A significant percentage of clients in our service are accompanied by children.

Safe Steps offers supports for children who are victims of family and domestic violence, including Children’s Support Workers and Children’s Education Workers in our Residential Services.

Men

At Safe Steps we recognise that there are some men in the community who are also victims of domestic and family violence.

Men experiencing family and domestic violence often experience stigma and isolation attached to being a male help seeker and can experience difficulty accessing family services. At Safe Steps we provide confidential, safe, non-judgmental support for men experiencing family and domestic violence.

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How Do We Stop Family and Domestic Violence?

To stop family and domestic violence, we must confront it at every level. Raising awareness in our communities, ensuring accountability for those who perpetrate violence, and advocating for broader social change are key to prevention. Together, we can break the cycle of violence and create lasting change.

How Can I Support Safe Steps?Safe Steps Advocacy

Safe Steps respectfully acknowledges and celebrates the Traditional Owners of the lands throughout Victoria and pays respects to their Elders of past, current and future generations.

Safe Steps is committed to ensuring diversity, inclusion and equity are embedded throughout our organisation for the benefit of our clients and our staff. We are committed to a focus on recognising and eliminating discrimination in the services we deliver. Read our Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Statement here.

Safe Steps is committed to creating and maintaining a Child Safe Organisation; ensuring obligations to meet the Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme requirements, as codified by the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic). You can read more about this commitment in our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy here.