fbpx

Family violence

What is family violence?

Family violence is when a member of your family uses power to coerce, dominate or control another person or group of people in your family. Family violence is not just physical harm. It can also be financial, sexual, emotional, psychological, cultural or spiritual abuse. Often it is a combination of one or more types of abuse.

 

Family violence often begins or escalates when couples separate. Women are more likely to experience violence from a former partner than a current partner.

Man thinking about something - family violence

Who is affected by family violence?

Family violence can happen to anyone. It is most commonly perpetrated by men against women who are their current or former partners. This is known as intimate partner violence. About a quarter of women in Australia have experienced violence by a partner at least once.

 

Family violence covers a wide range of behaviours and actions. It may be carried out by siblings, people in same-sex relationships, young people, adult children or extended family members.

Tired young child - family violence

Are you worried about how someone close is treating you?

If you are concerned that you are a victim of family violence, The Orange Door is the best place for you to get help.

The Orange Door

The Orange Door is an integrated support service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence. It also provides extra support to families who need help with the care of their children.

 

The Orange Door brings together workers from specialist family violence, child and family, Aboriginal and men’s services to provide a coordinated network of specialist support services.

The orange door logo

As a partner of The Orange Door, Cafs provides a Men’s Enhanced Intake Program and Child Wellbeing Services. We are proud to be a part of The Orange Door in partnership with other leading family services organisations across the Central Highlands.

 

To contact The Central Highlands Orange Door, phone 1800 219 819, visit www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au or email cha@orangedoor.vic.gov.au

 

How does Cafs help?

Our work with the male perpetrators of family violence underscores our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children. Our programs are evidence based and accentuate our pledge to developing research and influencing government policy.

 

Growing up with family violence harms children’s health, wellbeing and development. Even if children don’t directly see or hear the abuse, they know it’s happening and they’re affected by living in a tense or scary home.

Portrait of young bearded person

Intimate partner violence is a major risk factor in child abuse and neglect. Women who witness family violence as a child are twice as likely to become a victim of intimate partner violence when they are older. Domestic and family violence is a significant factor in many child protection cases. Find out more about our Men’s Behaviour Support program.

CAFS stories

Cafs Thread Together is leading the change in the local community


The new Cafs Thread Together clothing hub in Ballarat is a life changing moment for those who walk through its doors. However, it isn’t just the “shoppers” who are discovering its power but also the volunteers.

Read more

How Step Up helped a young boy overcome violent behaviour toward his mum


Dylan was the last child anyone expected to be violent or aggressive. He’s the quiet one in the family. When Dylan was nine, he started lashing out at home.

Read more

How June and Robert found the right time to become Cafs foster carers


Becoming foster carers can be a life affirming experience. June and Robert always knew that fostering would be in their future; it was just a question of timing. 

Read more

How Cafs financial counselling helped
a dad battling with cancer


When you’re a self-employed dad, being sick comes with more concerns than your own health. With no money coming in, Tony was stressed about his family. 

Read more

Housing Support: How Cafs ATAR team helped a father avoid eviction


Bruce was admitted to hospital for three months, and while he was in there, he asked his adult sons to take care of the home he'd been renting for the past eleven years.

Read more

How Cafs helped Chloe and her family find hope


Chloe was 16, and her young life was falling apart. She’d dropped out of school and had started drinking and taking drugs. She also started stealing and self-harming.

Read more

How Cafs day stay helped one young family establish a healthy bedtime routine


For Bianca and Josh, the excitement of becoming new parents was giving way to exhaustion. They were desperate for more sleep.

Read more
Client Engagement Team 1800 692 237

Like and follow us on:

Head Office
115 Lydiard Street North
Ballarat VIC 3350

Keep in touch

Keep up-to-date with Cafs’ news by subscribing to our newsletter.

Cafs acknowledges our past. In the spirit of reconciliation, we give deepest respect to Australia's First Nations Peoples. Their histories, their stories, their resilience. Their connection to culture and land. The wisdom of their Elders past, present and emerging.

Skip to content