Domestic violence is any kind of abuse that can happen between partners in a relationship. In Australia it is also referred to as intimate partner’s relationship and it can occur in different forms. The major types of domestic violence that have been established include physical, social, emotional, spiritual and economic violence. This violence usually affects people of all ages and it is not necessarily that it occurs at home to be classified as intimate partner violence. Many a times, domestic violence is usually about the power and control, in both the family and intimate partner relationship, and in most occasions there are a number of ways in which the family or partners can express that they want to be in power and control1. It has been established that domestic violence do happen in the entire community and society notwithstanding age, ethnic background, location, religious belief and socio-economic status.
One of the most common forms of domestic violence is physical violence 2. Here the abuser maybe a loved one or even a pet. Physical violence is the most difficult type of domestic abuse to take in since it hurts so much and it also leads to injuries. But whichever way it happen, in Australia, somebody is advised to take some action regardless of who the stressor or abuser is. Emotional violence is another kind of domestic violence that happens in Australia, however, in many occasions it does go unrecognized yet it can be very hurtful. This violence is commonly referred to as psychological abuse by many Australians. It has been researched and found to be the most common type of violence and abuse in the Australian land. When emotional violence occurs, the victim usually feels degraded, unworthy, humiliated and guilty. All these contribute to an individual’s low self esteem which is unhealthy and undesirable. The third and another most common type of domestic violence is economic violence3. It’s a common knowledge that when you have money which you can make decision over its use or storage, you will be able to be independent. However, if there is someone, in your life who controls your money, or sometimes makes you to ask for money unreasonably, then you are undergoing economic violence. In this case the person will make you financially depend and you won’t have decisions regard the use of your money. On the other hand, the fourth type of domestic violence, social violence usually takes place in the relationships where there are other forms of violence. For instance, when someone belittles you in front of your family, friends or other people, either through teasing, insulting and isolating you from them or controlling your movements and decisions, then you might need to take action, since that warrants as a social violence in Australia. The last common type of domestic violence in Australia is the spiritual violence; in this case, you are not allowed or given the opportunity to have your views on cultural beliefs, religion or values. It’s also considered as spiritual violence when someone manipulates your spirituality to make your feelings powerless. In the recent researches, there is an alarming increase in stalking. Stalking has never been considered a problem in Australia until recently when it was realized that some people stay in abusive relationships without taking actions. In this case, one’s partner or an ex-partner remains in touch with the partner. This usually is against the wish of the victim partner since the abuser remains in contact even after it has been clearly made that the relationship is over and no more communications should be exchanged4.
Most of the Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal’s like to use the term family violence to refer to domestic violence. To them, this term is the best fit description for domestic violence since they see it as a term which comprises all the types and forms of domestic violence like, the violence that occurs in intimate, mutual relationships and family. Family violence, do happen to both male and female persons, nonetheless, the most victims are women. Domestic violence also occurs in the same-sex relationship, thus it is a non avoidable problem which must be solved for the happiness of all. Indeed, family violence does happen to the married and defacto relationships. It also takes place in intimate personal relationships other than between family members, like in informal care relationships. Therefore, domestic violence can be looked at with a deeper understanding since it is more than argument or conflict. In this case, it is beyond that state where an individual feels that he/she needs to express her/his ideas. But instead at this level family violence is looked at as that violence which occurs when one over uses the powers at his/her discretion to control another person.
Problem with Domestic Violence
Today, a number of people are aware of the different forms of domestic violence that occurs in Australia. Indeed, most of them acknowledge and accept that they have experienced the above forms of domestic violence. However, there is one thing that they acknowledge as important even though they do not have any idea or knowledge on the way they should go about it. This is what I also find hard to fathom about domestic violence. The question is, how can I keep myself safe? This is the question that lingers in the memories of many people. They have knowledge and information on the types and occurrence of the domestic violence, but they do not know how to stay safe and avoid being violated or abused by family and friends. Usually, we underestimate the dangers that we go through because we don’t understand the seriousness of the danger we are in, albeit knowing and realizing that the danger is there. Therefore, to see the seriousness and avoid the danger we are going through, we need to control or regulate the effects of what the abusers are doing. This is what is termed as being safe by the anti domestic violence activists. Certainly, being safe is the best thing that everybody wants, thus you must endeavor to ensure your safety is guaranteed. And as noted in the researches, it is not an easy task for you to work out and eliminate the danger you are going through yourself. Thus, you must consider seeking help from many people and departments, including the police, territory support lines and the state. These bodies can assist you to avoid the dangers resulting from abusive relationships as well as helping you to stay safe5.
Stakeholder Groups
The three stakeholders that you can’t ignore when you are working out risks or looking for safety against domestic violence include the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), Select Council on Women Issues and Advisory Groups. The COAG is a relevant stakeholder in the success of a communication strategy. This is because; they have a very big role which they play in the fight against violence. This group is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing and regulating the reports on the domestic violence. They are also tasked with the role of overseeing that the major reforms in the Australian government National Plan, Building Strong Foundation are implemented. These reforms include closing the gap; in this case the target is to lower the dangers resulting from the violence, the road home where COAG targets a national approach to reduce homelessness resulting from home violence, social inclusion agenda and national health reform. The next stakeholder is the commonwealth, state and territory ministers. These ministers are tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Australian National Plan, in this case they will work across different offices since reducing domestic violence include reducing violence against women6. Thus working in these offices will ensure consistent action and information reach out to children, community, housing, policing and justice. Furthermore, linking with these ministries will ensure that dangers resulting from domestic violence are addressed in one phase and as one subject area. The last stakeholder is the advisory groups. As the name suggest, these groups are very important in sharing information on the existing dangers due to violence and exchanging the information on the specific areas that are most widespread and those which must be given first priorities. Also, these groups are very relevant in establishing linkages between the communities, women and children as they endeavor to pass across the information.
Community Goal
The overarching community goal that must be addressed in this strategy is building primary prevention capacity. In this point, the community is already aware on the various causes and forms of domestic violence, but they need ways in which the violence can be stopped before it occurs. This therefore calls for positive and respectful attitudes which are very vital for all Australian children, women and men so as to live satisfying lives, free from the violence, thus safe in the communities where they live. However, as much as stopping violence at the community levels are very important; the government must also do the role of encouraging the individuals to develop healthy and respectful family and social relationships7.
Objectives
1. To motivate the community to stop, take action and speak against domestic violence by putting in place social marketing and awareness promotions that motivates men, women and children to strive towards healthy and respectful relationships.
2. Encourage constructive media representation of children and women and come up with media codes of practice for reporting family violence cases.
3. Ascertain that gender equality is reached by developing and making good use of the gender equality indicators.
Strategy Statement
Roles of Stakeholders in Strategy Implementation
The team can also include young people and those who have shown desirability to work with the disabled and those from diverse cultural background. Also, people from the commonwealth state or officials from the state or territory ministers will be of great help. This is because they are versed with social marketing campaigns, thus with the special information targeting domestic violence, they will be able to meet the overarching community goal of stopping violence before it happens. Select council on women issues, together with the government will also be involved in a number of areas including being representatives in the advisory groups. They will have the chance to provide services like social campaigns against domestic violence and they will also be engaged in advising and adding their voice to victims of domestic violence. Another role which the two stakeholders will be tasked with includes offering ways through which people can access domestic violence services. Thus, to ensure sustainability and widespread of the desired results and outcomes, all the state and territories ministers must be brought on board. Therefore as the stakeholders address the key objectives as discussed, the strategy objective will be met. In addition, the social marketing campaigns and encouraging of media positive codes will increase the intolerance of men, women and children against the domestic violence. Therefore, the implementation of the strategy statement will increase the community’s knowledge, skills and behavior.
Appendix
The theoretical perspective I have used in this paper is the functional perspective. In this case I have established an understanding of the society from a functionalist point of view. From the view of a functionalist I have likened the society to that system of one unit with many interrelated parts. In this way I have looked at the society from the different stakeholders who are needed to help individuals and families work out the problem of family violence. In my analysis I further noted that for these interrelated parts to function well, they must act together. Thus in the research report discussed above I have identified the different stakeholders, COAG, which represents the government and advisory groups which bring in people selected from different sectors, both government and non-government. In this understanding, the advisory groups, COAG and selected women representatives must work together as a unit to find ways of stopping domestic violence.
As much as the three groups are working together they are not necessarily doing the same work, thus completing the functionality perspective which states that the parts involved should work together even if they are doing different work. By working together, the three stakeholders are able to bring in balance and all the objectives outlined are obtained with oneness. Therefore, while the parts of the society are working together even if they are performing different functions, their togetherness tends to bring in a solution to the whole social system. In this case the working together develops kind of social structure which assists the team in achieving integration and finally stability. Moreover, the working together of the stakeholders is very key in bringing in the consensus and balance in the struggle to eliminate and stop domestic violence. Thus, as explained in the last two sentences above, I was able to develop the strategy10.
References
Australian Government and Department of Families, Housing, Community Service and Indigenous Afairs. Linking Indigenous Australians to Community Support Services.fahcsia.gov.au, 2012. Accessed 21st/10/2012. http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/
Australian Government and Australian Institute of Criminology. Australian Institute of Criminology. Aic.gov.au, 2012. Accessed 21st/10/2012. http://www.aic.gov.au/
Australian Government and Department of Families, Housing, Community Service and Indigenous Afairs. National Implementation Plan, First action plan, 2010 to 2013: Building a Strong Action Plan. Fahcsia.gov.au. accessed 21st/10/2012. http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/09_2012/imp_plan_25092012.pdf
Domestic Violence Connect. What is a Dometsic Violence. Dvcconnect.org/dvline. Accessed 21st/10/2012. http://www.dvconnect.org/dvline/
Domestic Violence Crisis Service A.C.T. domestic Violence. Dvc.org.au. accessed 21st/10/2012. http://www.dvcs.org.au/domesticviolence.html
Domestic Violence Crisis Service. Annual Report 2008. dvcs.org.au.2008, accessed on 21st/10/2012. http://www.dvcs.org.au/images/uploads/annual_report_2008.pdf
Domestic Violence Crisis Service. Annual Report 2009. dvcs.org.au.2009, accessed on 21st/10/2012. http://www.dvcs.org.au/images/uploads/annual_report_2009.pdf
Domestic Violence Crisis Service. Annual Report 2010. Working With the Community to Promote Healthy and Respectful Relationships. dvcs.org.au.2010, accessed on 21st/10/2012. http://www.dvcs.org.au/images/uploads/Annual_Report_2010.pdf
Laing, Lesley and Toivonen, Cherie. Evaluation of the Green Valley Liverpool Domestic Violence Service: Walking with Women on their Journey away from Violence. Liverpool: Quensland Publishers, 2012. Pdf e-book.
Reach Out. Com. What is Domestic Violence? Au.reachout.com. accessed 21st/10/2012. http://au.reachout.com/What-is-domestic-violence
