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What is Family Violence? Understanding the Signs, Impacts and Support Available
Family violence can affect people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances. While many people associate family violence with physical abuse, it can take many different forms and often involves patterns of behaviour that are designed to control, intimidate or cause harm.
Understanding what family violence is, how it impacts people, and where to find support is an important step towards creating safer communities.
What is Family Violence?
Family violence refers to behaviour that is used to control, coerce, threaten, intimidate or harm another family member.
It can occur between current or former intimate partners, between family members, and in relationships where one person uses power and control over another.
Family violence is not always physical. It can include a range of behaviours that impact a person’s safety, wellbeing, independence and sense of self.
Different Forms of Family Violence
Family violence can include:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional or psychological abuse
- Verbal abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial abuse
- Social isolation
- Technology-facilitated abuse
- Coercive and controlling behaviour
Often, these behaviours occur together and become more frequent or severe over time.
Recognising the Signs
The signs of family violence can look different for everyone.
Some common indicators may include:
- Feeling afraid of a partner or family member
- Being constantly monitored or controlled
- Having limited access to money or resources
- Being isolated from friends, family or support networks
- Experiencing threats, intimidation or humiliation
- Feeling pressured to change behaviour to avoid conflict
Family violence is never the responsibility of the person experiencing it.
The Impact of Family Violence
Family violence can have significant impacts on individuals, families and communities.
People experiencing family violence may be affected emotionally, physically, socially and financially.
Children and young people can also be impacted by family violence, even if they do not directly witness or experience abusive behaviour themselves.
The effects can continue long after the violence has ended, which is why support and recovery services are so important.
Seeking Support
If you are experiencing family violence, or are concerned about someone you know, support is available.
Seeking support can help increase safety, provide practical assistance and connect people with specialist services.
Everyone’s situation is different, and there is no right or wrong way to seek help.
How FVREE Can Help
FVREE is a specialist family violence organisation working across prevention, support and recovery.
Our Support and Recovery services work alongside adults, children and young people who are experiencing family violence. We provide specialist support, advocacy, safety planning and pathways to recovery.
We also work with communities, schools, workplaces and organisations to help prevent family violence before it starts.
Learn More
Explore FVREE’s Support and Recovery services or access family violence resources and information.
ABOUT FVREE family violence support
FVREE is a specialist family violence support services organisation working across prevention, support and recovery. We partner with communities to help create safer, more equal communities free from family violence.
