Family violence

What is family violence?

Family violence is abuse by a family member to another in the family. It hurts people and causes them to feel afraid.

It includes:

• physical
• sexual
• emotional
• psychological, and
• financial abuse.

Family violence affects women, men and children. Any violence, perpetrated by either sex, is unacceptable. However, in the vast majority of cases family violence is perpetrated by men against women.

 All types of relationships can be abusive. Abuse can happen between young or older couples, people with a disability and their carers, same sex relationships, heterosexual relationships, parents abused by their children of all ages.

 All types of violence are harmful. All types of violence are against the law. If you are being abused, never believe the violence is your fault.

• young couples
• older people
• people with disabilities and their carers
• same sex relationships
• heterosexual relationships, and
• parents abused by children of all ages.

Moreland services for women and men

• If you are in immediate danger called the police on 000
• 24 hour emergency help: 1800 015 188 or 9322 3555
• Berry Street, Northern Region Family Violence Service 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday 9450 4700 
• Men’s Referral Service: 9428 2899
• Kildonan UnitingCare Men’s Behaviour Change Program: 9471 0108

Family violence hurts kids too

Children and young people are scared by family violence, even when they are not being hurt. Seeing or hearing violence hurts children too. It can teach children that violence is OK, when it's not.

Children have the right to feel safe. They should not have to live with violence or believe it is normal.

Safety planning

Have a plan before you leave

• Where will you go?
• How will you get there?
• What will you take? (money, birth certificate, bank book, passport, spare keys, Medicare card, medications, change of clothes)

Who should I tell about leaving?

Make sure telling someone is safe for both you and them. You can tell:

• supportive friends
• family
• neighbours
• children, or 
• school.

Ask you neighbours to call 000 if they hear you calling for help. 

Other local services

• Centre Against Sexual Assault 24 hour service 1800 806 292
• inTouch: Multicultural Centre against Women’s Family Violence: 1800 755 988 or 8413 6800

Moreland City Council and prevention of family violence

We all have a role to play in the prevention of family violence. Prevention in the home starts within the Community. Prevention includes clear messages about respect and equity, delivered in the workplace, at local sports clubs, in schools, the media and popular culture.

Family violence is a widespread issue in Moreland, as across Australia. The statistics relating to women are overwhelming:

• Violence from an intimate partner is the main cause of death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged between 15 and 44.
• One in three women will experience violence in their lives, and one in five will experience sexual violence.
• One women is killed in Australia every week by her partner or ex-partner.

But more positively and importantly, family violence is preventable. Council, along with other tiers of government, have a responsibility to prevent any harm to the community where they can play a role. 

Council endorsed the Moreland Family Violence Prevention Strategy in March 2011. The strategy takes a community settings-based approach to promoting a respectful gender-equal and non-violent community.

Files

• Moreland Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2011-2015 (PDF 1Mb)
• Moreland Family Violence Prevention Action Plan 2011-2012 (PDF 442Kb)

Links

• Moreland Family Violence Network
• Department of Planning and Community Development, Family Violence
• Northern Integrated Family Violence Services – information for service providers
• Local Government Networking and Capacity Building Project to Prevent Violence Against Women – information for local governments and regional bodies
• White Ribbon Foundation