Family Violence, or abuse, is when someone behaves abusively towards a family member. It is part of a pattern of behaviour that controls or dominates a person and causes them to fear for their own or others’ safety and wellbeing.

​Most people use the terms Family and Domestic Abuse or Violence synonymously. Most judiciaries consider, when the abuse is perpetrated by close family members or 'trusted' others, to also fall under this definition.

At impact, we prefer the term Relationship Violence to also include 'trusted others' including close family friends, doctors, teachers and clergy. On this website, we use the three terms - Family, Domestic and Relationship Violence or Abuse - interchangeably.

​Relationship Abuse is not just about hitting, stabbing, choking, burning or killing... although these and other forms of physical violence is one of the most dangerous form of violence often leading to physical injury or death.

Relationship Abuse can include:

• physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• emotional or psychological abuse
• economic abuse
  - withholding money or family resources
• threats
• coercion
• social isolation
  - preventing you from seeing or speaking with family or friends
• actual or threatened harm to things you love
  - including pets and personal belongings
• religious abuse
  - forcing you to perform religious acts you don't with to
  OR, conversely
  - preventing you from performing religious acts you do want to
• controlling or dominating you
• causing you to fear for your safety or that of another person
• stalking
• technological abuse
  - this is an quickly growing form of abuse
• causing your child to hear, witness or otherwise be exposed to the effects of abuse or violence​

Relationship Abuse:

• can happen to anyone
  but is mainly committed by men against women, children and other vulnerable people.
  Having said that, Relationship Abuse is also perpetrated by women against men, women against children, women against vulnerable people.
  Relationship Abuse is also perpetrated by men on men and women on women.
  
  
• affects children
  Children who are exposed to relationship abuse are particularly vulnerable and it can impact on their physical, psychological and emotional well-being.
  
  
• affects the entire community
  Relationship Abuse occurs in all areas of society regardless of location, culture, ethnicity or religion. Relationship Abuse also occurs regardless of socioeconomic, educational, employment or sobriety status.
  
  
• may involve overt or subtle exploitation of power
  and imbalances and may consist of isolated incidents which for patterns of abuse over a period of time.
  
  
• causes fear, physical and/or psychological harm
  Violent, abusive and intimidating behaviours are usually demonstrated by men against women and children although it can be women against men and children, men against men and women against women.
  
  
• is a violation of human rights
  because it involves intimidating, abusive and/or violent behaviours.
  
  
• has a profound negative affect on children and young people
  and is a form of child abuse.
  
  
• never starts with physical violence
  but is always preceded by other forms of abuse first
  ​

What's the line between 'Normal Relationship Disagreements' and 'Relationship Abuse'?
Disagreements are a normal part of a healthy relationship but both people should be able to put forward their different points of view or concerns and feel comfortable discussing them together. 

In healthy relationships, both parties treat each other with respect and try to overcome their problems and disagreements. 

However, in a relationship where Relationship Abuse occurs, the situation is very different. One person in the relationship feels threatened - too frightened to argue back or too scared to disagree or express his/her opinion. If someone is using intimidation, manipulation, violence and/or fear to control the other person, it is abuse!

Violating someone's sense of security and safety, is abuse! Abusing a family member, friend or someone you have a close or trusted relationship with, is Relationship Abuse! Relationship Abuse is a crime.