Domestic and Family Violence is a significant issue in Australia, impacting both women and men, but significantly more women. It affects approximately 1 in 4 women and one in 16 men.
Domestic and Family Violence can happen to anyone, regardless of where they live, their profession, their education or their age.

Those particularly vulnerable include:

• • indigenous women
  • people living outside major cities
  • young women aged 18-34 years old
  • people with a disability
  • the LGBTI+ community

The impacts of Domestic and Family Violence can extend across a person’s life. These impacts may include:

• • physical injury (in extreme cases, victims lose their lives)
  • a loss of confidence
  • reduced connection to family and friends
  • financial issues
  • damage to their career
  • loss of their home
  • interrupted/changes to time with their children

  These impacts can exist for a long time, in some cases for years after a person leaves the situation. It is therefore important that we better understand Domestic and Family Violence to provide empathy and support for those who are impacted.

There are several warning signs that may indicate someone is impacted by Domestic and Family Violence.

Domestic and Family Violence is complex, and these warning signs are not definite. Someone may exhibit warning signs and not be impacted by Domestic and Family Violence. And someone may be impacted by Domestic and Family Violence but not exhibit these warning signs.

However, here are some common warning signs that a person may be impacted by Domestic and Family Violence:

• • Changes to their attendance – arriving late, leaving early, unexplained absence, working longer hours, short notice for time off
  • Reduced outputs or quality of work
  • Visible changes – bruises or injuries, using makeup or covering up with scarves
  • Behavioural changes – drugs and alcohol, poor sleep, different mood, isolation from colleagues
  • Being guarded or worried when discussing home life
  • Frequent interruptions or harassment at work
  • Signs of mental health issues – anxiety, depression
  • Isolation from family and friends
  • Impaired access to finances

  If you suspect someone is impacted by Domestic and Family Violence, please contact HR Enquiries on 07 3352 0810.

Whilst we are sharing the warning signs that someone may be using violence, we do not ask or recommend that you approach them on this topic. Please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service. You can also find the service you need here.

Alternatively, please reach out to HR Enquiries on 07 3352 0800.

And like someone who may be impacted by Domestic and Family Violence, these warning signs are not definite. Someone may show warning signs and not be using violence. And someone may be using violence Domestic and Family Violence but not exhibit these warning signs.

However, these are common signs of a person who is using violence:

• • Changes to work attendance
  • Reduced work outputs and/or quality
  • Spending time at work constantly texting or calling partner
  • Has injuries but explanations don’t align
  • Bullying behaviour towards colleagues
  • Talking negatively, behaving with disrespect or acting with violence towards the victim
  • Not taking responsibility for their violence or minimising their actions
  • Jealousy and possessiveness
  • Lack of support for gender equality

Abuse: to insult, hurt, injure, rape and/or molest another person. This may include physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, spiritual abuse and/or verbal abuse.

Person impacted by domestic violence: a person who is affected by violence or children who witness domestic violence

A person using violence: a person who uses abusive behaviours to exert power and control over another person.

Coercion: when one person attempts or forces another to think or act in a different way.

Domestic and Family Violence (DFV): a pattern of coercive behaviours, used by an abuser to gain or maintain power and control over or harm another person with whom they are having an intimate or family relationship.

Domestic and Family Violence Service Provider or specialist support service: an organisation that provides support, counselling and practical assistance to victims of Domestic and Family Violence.

Safety Plan: a plan, verbal or written, a victim of Domestic and Family Violence creates (either alone or with an advocate) with action steps to keep her and any impacted children safe when violence takes place or to prevent violence from happening.

Sexual Assault: any unwanted sexual activity forced on one person by another.