Your experience of family violence might look different to someone else's experience.
Family violence is a pattern of behaviour that a family member (including partner) uses to coerce and dominate. The behaviours can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal or financial. It includes the threat of violence and intimidation.
The pattern of this behaviour results in you feeling fearful or uneasy for your safety or wellbeing. You might also be worried about other people's safety, pets or property.
Children are also experiencing family violence if they see or hear it in any way.
To assist you in understanding if you are experiencing family violence we have provided a list of behaviours on the next screen.
Definition of family member
Family members are people you've had an intimate personal relationship with. This can include partners or ex-partners, parents or children or anyone you think of as a relative. It can also include people you treat like a family member such as a carer or someone related to you in the kinship structure of your culture. It can include people you have known for a long time or just recently met.
Definition of family violence in Victoria
This description of family violence is used when deciding if a person needs protection with an intervention order.