Domestic violence can affect anyone in the community.
Domestic violence is when someone uses violence or manipulation to maintain power and control over someone they’re close to. This form of violence not only harms individuals but also impacts entire families and communities, often leaving lasting psychological and social scars.
Family and domestic violence is always the fault of the person causing the abuse. It’s never the fault of the person experiencing abusive behaviour. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family-based violence, help is available. Reach out to friends, family, your GP or local support services for confidential assistance and guidance.
There are many ways in which an individual experiencing abuse can be controlled and harmed. This includes, but is not limited to sexual, social, emotional, cultural, spiritual and financial abuse, as well as a wide range of controlling, coercive and intimidating behaviour. Some examples may be:
- Isolating individuals from friends, family, and support networks to reduce their independence and make them solely reliant on the abuser.
- Manipulating feelings through gaslighting, belittling, constant criticism, or other tactics that erode self-esteem and emotional well-being.
- Controlling an individual’s access to money, sabotaging their financial independence, or creating economic dependency to exert power.
- Enforcing rules or restrictions, making threats, or engaging in actions that instill fear and compliance, leaving the individual feeling powerless and trapped.
Recognising these patterns is the first step in breaking the cycle of control and harm, and seeking help can pave the way toward safety and recovery.
Certain types of injuries can act as warning signs that a person may be a victim of (physical) domestic violence. For example, people who have several or repeated injuries without a logical explanation. They may seem ‘accident prone’ or have marks such as bruises, fingernail scratches or cigarette burns.
Other signs of domestic violence you might notice in a friend or relative include:
- They have lost their confidence or are more quiet than usual.
- They seem afraid of their partner.
- They have stopped seeing their friends or family.
- Their partner often criticises them, humiliates them, orders them about or makes all the decisions.
- They often talk about their partner’s bad temper or jealousy.
- They have physical injuries, like bruises, broken bones, sprains or cuts.
- Their children seem afraid of the person or show withdrawn or anxious behaviour.
1800RESPECT - Domestic abuse hotline as well as online resources and information.
- Web: 1800respect.org.au
- Phone: 1800 737 732
Women's Domestic Violence Helpline - Provides support for women, with or without children, who are experiencing family and domestic violence in Western Australia.
- Phone: 1800 007 339
Centre for Women's Safety & Wellbeing - Provides assistance in finding family and domestic violence services.
Men's Domestic Violence Helpline - Provides telephone information and referrals for men who are concerned about their violent and abusive behaviours, and for male victims of family and domestic violence in Western Australia.
- Phone: 1800 000 599
MensLine Australia - 24/7 support for men and boys dealing with family and relationship difficulties. Support for men who are concerned that their behaviour is hurting the people they care about.
- Web: mensline.org.au
- Phone: 1300 78 99 78
Sexual Assault Resource Centre - Provides a range of free services to people affected by sexual violence.
- Web: kemh.health.wa.gov.au/sarc
- Phone: 6458 1828
- Crisis Line: 1800 199 888
Play your part in stopping family & domestic violence.
For 16 days in November and December, the community is invited to take a part in encouraging change to stop violence against women.
The annual 16 Days in WA – Stop Violence Against Women campaign takes place from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
RugbyWA is standing in support of the 16 Days in WA campaign in 2024 . Violence against anyone is unacceptable. We all have a responsibility to stop family and domestic violence. Stopping family and domestic violence means promoting gender equality and respectful relationships.
Play your part to help keep your family and community safe.
Sports is an integral part of Australian culture. As a result, clubs and teams can play a significant role in the prevention of domestic violence and violence against women in Australia.
Our Watch has developed a range of tools and resources to support sporting organisations address the gendered drivers and prevent violence against women.
The Equality and respect in sport implementation guide provides a step-by-step approach, and good practice examples of how your sporting organisation can work to prevent violence against women.
The Equality and respect in sport standards are what all sporting organisations should work towards. They focus on what you can do with your staff and your external stakeholders to address violence against women.
The Victorian Government's Safe and Inclusive Sport: Preventing gender-based violence guide acknowledges the enormous capacity of sport to influence positive attitudes and behaviours around gender equity and the prevention of gender-based violence. The guide provides 10 guiding principles, case studies and practical tools to support sporting associations, regional sports assemblies, women’s health and community health services, local councils, and other organisations work together to develop and implement prevention of gender-based violence projects in community sport settings.
Domestic violence, family violence and violence towards children are breaches of Rugby Australia's Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding policies. Individuals who engage in abusive behaviour may be found in breach of these policies and face disciplinary measures.
To report a Code of Conduct breach, click the link below.