Throwing a light on family violence

What did we do?

We met with the key stakeholders to unpack the problem and discuss the words ‘family’ and ‘violence’.

A domestic dispute may conjure images of a couple arguing at home, but this can downplay the seriousness of the violence taking place.

Family, on the other hand, acknowledges it’s not just intimate partner violence that’s the issue. And, there are many permutations of a family.

And while violence can be physical, the way we think about it can also be emotional, financial and psychological abuse, including controlling and coercive behaviours.

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Insights

Eighty per cent of reported violence is perpetrated by men. While this is the starting point for the campaign – male perpetrators abusing their female partners – we also want to shift attitudes by reinforcing respect and equality.

The campaign aims to build an environment in which both women and men feel comfortable to seek help.

The phrase ‘For our children’s future’ was tested and resonated strongly with focus groups.

It’s a powerful means to get men to reflect on the damage that violence can do, as well as suggesting generational change; our children don’t have to grow up witnessing acts of control and violence.

By highlighting something any community finds unacceptable

– the devastating effect violence can have on female victims and the children witnessing it

– the campaign targets all Victorians across rural, remote and urban areas.

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Further research

Longer-term, further goals include changing perpetrator, victim and bystander behaviour and providing information such as:

– seek help if you are concerned about your own behaviour.

– report someone if they abuse others.

– speak up when you know it’s going on.

This is what social norming means; behaviours that are no longer exceptional, they’re expected.

Other initiatives include the respect agenda in schools, increased awareness of safe houses, education programs for first responders, night courts and special family courts.

For BehaviourWorks Australia and The Shannon Company, results aren’t expected until late 2017. Let’s hope – for our children’s future – this dark subject has some light at the end of the tunnel.

Images with thanks to The Shannon Company.