Linked with When Love Hurts.
DVRC (formerly DVIRC) is a statewide service in Victoria, Australia. DVRC aims to reduce and prevent family violence by providing education to improve service and policy responses, and by assisting people who have experienced abuse. DVRC provides information … (full text Homepage).
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Support services; Helpful; Training; Library; Newsletter, publications; Information pamphlet; Annual Report 08-09; Commentaries;
Address: DVRCV, 292 Wellington, St Collingwood Victoria 3066 Australia;
Contact for support services; Ph. (03) 9486-9866 Mon-Fri 9-5, Fax. (03) 9486-9744, by e-mail; Contact-Links to different other Services.
Aims, Philo, Principles – Purpose of this Document: The document defines relationship violence and its characteristics and outlines DVRCV’s understanding of its causes (1). It also makes recommendations about the principles on which relationship violence should be addressed.
DVRCV’s Aim:
- DVRCV aims to prevent violence in intimate and family relationships and promote non-violent and respectful behaviour.
DVRCV’s Goals – DVRCV works to achieve this aim through strategies which:
- improve the quality of services to victims of violence
- inform and support those affected by this violence
- inform public policy and research
- raise community awareness and promote community responsibility for violence prevention.
DVRCV’s Understanding of Relationship Violence
Relationship violence takes different forms:
- Relationship violence is common in Australia. It is a pattern of abusive behaviour through which a person seeks to control and dominate another person. Relationship violence does not take the form of a single incident. It is ongoing behaviour that gradually undermines the victim’s confidence and ability to leave the violent person. The severity and frequency of violence often escalate over time.
- This violence takes many forms, none of which is mutually exclusive. While physical violence may be the most visible form, others such as sexual, emotional, social, spiritual and economic abuse can be equally harmful.(2)
- Relationship violence is common in Australia. It is complex, and different from other forms of interpersonal violence. Relationship violence occurs in the context of various relationships, including those which are familial, intimate and/or between people and those who care for them. It also occurs in friendships.
- When relationship violence occurs between adults in heterosexual relationships, research shows that men are most likely to be the perpetrators and women the victims. When the violence occurs against children in families, research shows that parents and step-parents are most likely to be the perpetrators. Children and young people also experience violence when they live with and/or witness violence between other family members.
Relationship violence is a denial of human rights and it causes significant harm: … (full long text).