Family Violence Action Plan

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Consultation has concluded

Family violence is widespread, serious and preventable. It's a critical public health and safety issue in Australia, where one in four women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them.

Preventing family violence is everyone’s responsibility. Council is well placed to take a leading role in preventing family violence due to its strong partnerships and collaborative approach in working with the community, local organisations and other levels of government.

Council is committed to preventing family violence. We are developing an Action Plan to promote safe, equal and respectful relationships in Kingston.

The Kingston Family Violence Working Group has been formed to assist council in developing and setting priority actions for the Action Plan. This working group includes representatives from the community, community organisations and Council.

The Kingston Family Violence Working Group is leading consultation with the community to hear your view on how we can address this important issue together.

Have your say

More information

If you would like more information about the Action Plan, this community consultation, or are interested in leading change in your community, please contact Amy Wallis, Kingston Family Violence Project Officer, in confidence on 9581 4906 or email amy.wallis@kingston.vic.gov.au.

More about family violence

What is family violence?

Family violence includes a range of behaviours perpetrated to control the victim, including physical violence and verbal abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, spiritual abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, social abuse (such as isolation) and stalking. It includes threatening, controlling, dominating or making another person feel fearful. It can include:

  • any physical violence, such as slapping or punching
  • forcing sexual relations, even if you are married
  • making threats or calling you or other family members names
  • constantly following, calling, texting and making them feel distressed
  • controlling contact with other people
  • denying access to money
  • preventing them worshipping in their desired faith
  • threatening or hurting pets
  • when children hear, witness, or see the effects of violence on another family member.

While men and women can be perpetrators or victims of family violence, the overwhelming majority of perpetrators are men, and the victims are women and their children.

The violence can occur in many different types of relationships including between intimate partners (domestic violence), from a parent to a child, from a child to a parent, between siblings, grandparents, extended families, kinship networks or carer relationships.

Family violence can affect anyone regardless of age, cultural background, education, sexuality or ability.

Gender equality

Gender equality refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women, men and trans and gender-diverse people. Equality does not mean that all people will become the same but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on their gender.

Gender inequality is a key cause of family violence. Preventing family violence requires working together to promote gender equality by:

  • challenging condoning violence against women
  • promoting women's independence and decision-making
  • challenging gender stereotypes and roles
  • strengthening positive, equal and respectful relationships.

Help

If you are in any immediate danger or want to report an incident, please call the Police on 000.

1800RESPECT
National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service
1800 737 732 (24 hours)
www.1800respect.org.au

safesteps: Family Violence Response Centre
Crisis support and referral to safe accommodation
9322 3555 / 1800 015 188 (24 hours)
safesteps.org.au

In Touch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
Support and information for immigrant women in your language
9413 6500 - Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
intouch.org.au

Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women’s Service
Support, accommodation and information for Indigenous women
9482 5744 - Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
emhaws.org.au

No to Violence Men’s Referral Service
Telephone counselling and information for men.
1300 766 491 - Monday to Friday: 8am - 9pm, weekends: 9am - 5pm
ntv.org.au

For links to more support services in Kingston go to www.asksomeone.org.au (Bayside area).

Family violence is widespread, serious and preventable. It's a critical public health and safety issue in Australia, where one in four women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them.

Preventing family violence is everyone’s responsibility. Council is well placed to take a leading role in preventing family violence due to its strong partnerships and collaborative approach in working with the community, local organisations and other levels of government.

Council is committed to preventing family violence. We are developing an Action Plan to promote safe, equal and respectful relationships in Kingston.

The Kingston Family Violence Working Group has been formed to assist council in developing and setting priority actions for the Action Plan. This working group includes representatives from the community, community organisations and Council.

The Kingston Family Violence Working Group is leading consultation with the community to hear your view on how we can address this important issue together.

Have your say

More information

If you would like more information about the Action Plan, this community consultation, or are interested in leading change in your community, please contact Amy Wallis, Kingston Family Violence Project Officer, in confidence on 9581 4906 or email amy.wallis@kingston.vic.gov.au.

More about family violence

What is family violence?

Family violence includes a range of behaviours perpetrated to control the victim, including physical violence and verbal abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, spiritual abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, social abuse (such as isolation) and stalking. It includes threatening, controlling, dominating or making another person feel fearful. It can include:

  • any physical violence, such as slapping or punching
  • forcing sexual relations, even if you are married
  • making threats or calling you or other family members names
  • constantly following, calling, texting and making them feel distressed
  • controlling contact with other people
  • denying access to money
  • preventing them worshipping in their desired faith
  • threatening or hurting pets
  • when children hear, witness, or see the effects of violence on another family member.

While men and women can be perpetrators or victims of family violence, the overwhelming majority of perpetrators are men, and the victims are women and their children.

The violence can occur in many different types of relationships including between intimate partners (domestic violence), from a parent to a child, from a child to a parent, between siblings, grandparents, extended families, kinship networks or carer relationships.

Family violence can affect anyone regardless of age, cultural background, education, sexuality or ability.

Gender equality

Gender equality refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women, men and trans and gender-diverse people. Equality does not mean that all people will become the same but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on their gender.

Gender inequality is a key cause of family violence. Preventing family violence requires working together to promote gender equality by:

  • challenging condoning violence against women
  • promoting women's independence and decision-making
  • challenging gender stereotypes and roles
  • strengthening positive, equal and respectful relationships.

Help

If you are in any immediate danger or want to report an incident, please call the Police on 000.

1800RESPECT
National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service
1800 737 732 (24 hours)
www.1800respect.org.au

safesteps: Family Violence Response Centre
Crisis support and referral to safe accommodation
9322 3555 / 1800 015 188 (24 hours)
safesteps.org.au

In Touch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
Support and information for immigrant women in your language
9413 6500 - Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
intouch.org.au

Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women’s Service
Support, accommodation and information for Indigenous women
9482 5744 - Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
emhaws.org.au

No to Violence Men’s Referral Service
Telephone counselling and information for men.
1300 766 491 - Monday to Friday: 8am - 9pm, weekends: 9am - 5pm
ntv.org.au

For links to more support services in Kingston go to www.asksomeone.org.au (Bayside area).