Recognising violence

We all have a right to be safe. Safe in our homes, safe in our communities, safe in our relationships. But that’s not the reality for many Victorians. Family violence and violence against women happen right across Victoria.

To be able to prevent violence, we need to be able to recognise all its forms. We also need to know the early indicators of coercion and control that can grow into further violence.

What is family violence?

Family violence is any violent, threatening, coercive or controlling behaviour that occurs in current or past family, domestic or intimate relationships. It can be physical, sexual, and/or non-physical.

It can describe:

• intimate partner violence
• child abuse
• elder abuse
• abuse between siblings
• adolescent violence in the home
• abuse by a carer. 

What is violence against women?

Violence against women can take many forms. Violence against women can occur in the home, at work or school, online or in public. It can happen within the family – like intimate partner violence – or outside it, like street harassment.  

Being able to understand violence against women means being able to recognise:  

• non-physical violence in relationships, and how it can escalate when unchallenged
• systemic gender inequalities (like in the workforce or in media reporting) and how they contribute to and reinforce violence against women  
• how forms of oppression and discrimination (like racism, colonialism, disability, and homophobia and transphobia) can add to and increase the impact of violence against women. 

Learn more about violence