How Do You Define Family Violence?

Family violence affects thousands of Australians every year—people just like you, your neighbours, or someone close to you. It doesn’t always involve physical harm. In fact, family violence often starts in subtle ways and can be hidden behind closed doors for a long time. Knowing how to define it can help you recognise the signs, protect yourself or someone you care about, and take steps to get support.

What is Family Violence?

How Do You Define Family Violence? Family violence is behaviour by a person towards a family member that causes fear, harm, or control. It goes beyond physical violence to include emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, and verbal abuse. It also covers threats, coercive behaviour, and damaging or destroying property.

Family violence can occur in any kind of family relationship—between spouses or partners, parents and children, siblings, carers, or extended relatives. You don’t have to live with someone for the abuse to count as family violence.

If someone tries to dominate or control you using threats, manipulation, or intimidation, you may be experiencing family violence—even if you’re not physically harmed.

Key takeaway: Family violence includes a wide range of behaviours, not just physical harm. It’s about fear, control, and abuse within family or intimate relationships.

Types of Family Violence

There are different forms of family violence, and you might experience more than one at the same time:

• Physical abuse: Hitting, slapping, pushing, choking, or using weapons.
• Emotional abuse: Verbal attacks, humiliation, intimidation, or undermining your confidence.
• Psychological abuse: Controlling your movements, isolating you from friends and family, or using threats to frighten you.
• Sexual abuse: Any sexual activity without consent, including being pressured or forced into acts you don’t want.
• Financial abuse: Controlling your money, denying access to joint funds, or forcing you into debt.
• Social abuse: Restricting your social connections, monitoring your calls or messages, or preventing you from leaving the house.
• Reproductive abuse: Forcing you to become pregnant, preventing access to contraception, or interfering with your reproductive choices.
• Technology-facilitated abuse: Using phones, social media, or other technology to stalk, harass, or monitor you.

Key takeaway: Family violence can take many forms—not all of them leave visible scars. The common thread is power and control.

How Do You Define Family Violence: Family Violence and the Law

Recent changes to Australia’s family law have expanded how family violence is defined and considered in legal proceedings. From 10 June 2025, new amendments to the Family Law Act formally recognise financial and economic abuse as forms of family violence. This means that behaviours like withholding money, forcing you into debt, denying you access to joint funds, or dowry-related abuse can now be assessed by the court in property and parenting matters.

The law also considers how family violence impacts your ability to contribute to the relationship or raise children. This matters in family law disputes, including property settlements, parenting arrangements, and spousal maintenance.

Family violence doesn’t have to involve criminal charges for the court to consider it. If you’re going through separation or divorce, the presence of family violence can affect outcomes in legal proceedings.

Key takeaway: The law recognises that family violence isn’t just physical—it includes financial control and emotional harm, especially when it affects your safety or capacity.

How It Can Affect You and Your Family

The impacts of family violence are serious and far-reaching. You might feel anxious, ashamed, or isolated. Your children may also be affected—even if they aren’t directly harmed, witnessing violence can cause long-term emotional distress.

You might find it harder to work, maintain friendships, or access healthcare. The longer the abuse continues, the more it can undermine your mental health, self-esteem, and independence.

In cases of family breakdown, the effects of family violence may also influence custody decisions, housing needs, and financial support arrangements.

Key takeaway: Family violence doesn’t just hurt in the moment—it can affect every part of your life and your family’s future.

What You Can Do

If you think you may be experiencing family violence, you’re not alone. There are services that can help you understand your rights, make a safety plan, and take the next step—whether that’s speaking to a counsellor, applying for a protection order, or finding emergency housing.

You can also talk to your GP or a trusted health professional. In many cases, they can help connect you to support services or legal advice.

If someone you know is experiencing abuse, you can offer support by listening without judgement and helping them find safe ways to seek help.

Key takeaway: Help is available, and you don’t have to face family violence alone. Reaching out can be the first step toward reclaiming your safety and wellbeing.

Family violence can happen in any household, to people of any age, gender, or background. Understanding what it looks like is the first step in recognising it in your life—or someone else’s.

Whether it’s a controlling partner, an abusive relative, or subtle manipulation that makes you feel unsafe, you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Your safety matters.

If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies as family violence, trust your instincts. You have the right to feel safe and supported in your relationships.