WHAT IS RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE?

Relationship violence is when your partner or ex-partner uses any form of abusive behaviour to get and maintain control over you. It is commonly known as domestic violence.

Domestic violence can take many forms. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, social or financial. Some people experience all these forms of abuse while others may experience one or a few forms. The abuse does not have to be physical or sexual to be domestic violence. Emotional, social and financial abuse can be just as damaging to a person’s life.

Domestic violence is more than just an argument and consenting S&M is not domestic violence. Domestic violence is an abuse of power that can leave you physically hurt and/or feeling sad, depressed, despairing, and/or fearful.

Domestic violence happens in all relationships: gay, lesbian and heterosexual. It can happen to anyone, whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or straight. It happens across all communities, across all genders and sexualities.

While domestic violence most commonly refers to abuse from your partner or ex-partner, you can also experience it from a relative, someone you have (or had) an intimate relationship with, someone you share (or shared) a house with or a carer (either paid or unpaid).
All domestic violence is wrong and some forms of domestic violence are a crime. You do not have to put up with domestic violence. You can get help.