We actively work with several organisations, including Emerge Women and Children’s Support Network and Windermere Child and Family Services, to support our learners against family violence and bullying.
The law defines family violence as involving any threatening, abusive or coercive behaviour that occurs in families, domestic or intimate relationships (current or former) that causes a person to feel fear.
It is important to note that although family violence is often considered as occurring between relatives or couples living in the same home, it can occur in any relationship that is ‘family-like’. Examples include a carer and kinship (such as Indigenous communities where there are alternative ‘family-like’ relationships differing from Western concepts).
Family violence come in various forms including but not limited to:
- Physical abuse or threatening of physical abuse
- Threats to harm family members
- Emotional abuse including name calling, humiliation, insults etc.
- Psychological abuse
- Forced sexual activity
- Restricting the practice of religious or spiritual beliefs
- Financial abuse - restricting access to funds
- Stalking
- Neglect
- Controlling contact between family members and other people
- Technology facilitated abuse - checking a person’s phone, computer, using spyware software, publishing inappropriate images without your consent
- Visa abuse
If you are experiencing or witnessing family violence, we encourage you to report the violence to police immediately. You can contact them on 000 in an emergency or by contacting your local police station.
If English is not your first language, call Triple Zero (000) and tell them your preferred language. They will connect you with an interpreter.
You can also find important information on methods of reporting family violence or seeking support on our Important Contacts page.