What is family & domestic violence?

In Australia, violence against women is called many different things, including domestic violence, family violence, intimate partner violence, coercive control, online abuse, stalking, workplace sexual harassment, street harassment and sexual assault. Our definition includes all these forms of violence against women*.

Family & domestic violence is “any abusive behaviour that is used to control someone in a family, family-like or intimate relationship, and makes that person afraid for their safety and wellbeing or the safety of another person” (Safe & Equal, 2025).

Certain people, identities and communities within Australia are at greater risk than others and experience violence that intersects with other forms of discrimination and disadvantage.

In Australia, approximately one woman is killed by her current or former partner every week, often after a history of family and domestic violence.

For employees, 30% of respondents to a 2011 survey on family and domestic violence and the workplace reported they had experienced violence, and 5% of those respondents had experienced violence in the last 12 months.

*Capacity for Change defines women as all people who identify and live as a woman, including cis gender, trans women and non-binary folk.