Riverland Domestic
Violence Action
Group

Domestic Violence what is it?
Domestic Violence is any form of abuse, violence or coercion by a partner or previous partner that serves to establish and maintain power and control over another person, is enacted in a context of unequal power or privilege and has the potential to cause harm to the physical and or emotional well being of that person. Abuse or violence in a relationship is about a pattern of behaviour that one person uses against another to intimidate them and get them to do what they want. Abuse is not just physical violence.
Physical Abuse
This involves physical acts such as hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking or threatening to harm you in any way. It could involve using a weapon or object to threaten or hurt you. This also includes object damage, throwing or smashing things, breaking furniture or personal items and hurting and killing pets. Hurting someone physically or threatening to hurt them is a criminal offence.
Sexual Abuse
This involves pressuring or forcing you to do sexual things that you don't want to. Even if your partner has not physically forced you to have sex with them if they have tried to manipulate you or coerce you into having sex when you didn't want to this is still sexual abuse. It is also sexual assault if you have been drinking or taking drugs or if you were asleep or unconscious and you were not aware of what was happening. Rape and other forms of sexual assault are criminal offences.
Verbal Abuse
That is when your partner puts you down, calls you names or yells at you. It may be criticism about what you are wearing or how you're acting. Saying you are useless or stupid.
Emotional Abuse
Making threats, ignoring, using looks or actions or speaking in ways which are frightening or threatening and/or making you think you're crazy. Another form of emotional abuse is when your partner threatens to hurt you or themself if you break up or leave them.
Social Abuse
This involves your partner constantly criticising and being suspicious of your family and friends, being moody when your friends are around and making them feel uncomfortable about being there. Not allowing you to have your own friends. It also involves controlling what you do, whom you talk to, where you go and question you on every detail of what you did without them. They may use jealousy or anger to intimidate you or to control your behaviour or they might deliberately humiliate you in front of other people.
Financial Abuse
This involves keeping you financially dependent, trying to stop you from getting a job, controlling the money, refusing to involve you in financial decision making, making you ask for money and making you account for the money you spent.
Spiritual Abuse
This is when your partner stops you from practising the religion of your choice, going to church, reading religious material. Or it could be the opposite where he forces you to practice the religion of their choice. They may also use religious teaching or reading to justify their behaviour. By using constant abuse against you, your own personal spirit will be undermined. You will lose your sense of worth, your self esteem will be lowered as will your level of confidence.
Unwanted Communication
Telephone calls, constant text messaging on mobile phones, letters and messages through friends are used to harass, intimidate and threaten.