Lesson 2 – Domestic Abuse, Coercive Control and Harassment

2.1 Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse is not limited to physical violence. It may include:

• Physical abuse;
• Sexual abuse;
• Violent or threatening behaviour;
• Controlling behaviour;
• Coercive behaviour;
• Psychological or emotional abuse; and
• Economic abuse.

Government guidance emphasises that domestic abuse can include emotional, controlling, coercive and economic abuse as well as physical violence.

2.2 Who may be affected?

Domestic abuse can affect people of any:

• Sex;
• Gender;
• Age;
• Race;
• Religion;
• Disability;
• Sexual orientation;
• Income level; or
• Property status.

It may occur between:

• Current partners;
• Former partners;
• Spouses;
• Former spouses;
• Family members; or
• Other personally connected people.

Abuse can continue or become more serious after separation.

2.3 Coercive or controlling behaviour

Controlling or coercive behaviour may involve a pattern designed to make someone dependent, frightened or subordinate.

Possible examples include:

• Isolating the person from family or friends;
• Monitoring calls, messages or movements;
• Controlling access to money;
• Taking identification documents;
• Preventing independent communication;
• Controlling housing decisions;
• Threatening eviction or homelessness;
• Damaging property;
• Restricting access to food, medication or transport;
• Using children to control the person;
• Repeated humiliation;
• Threatening self-harm to control another person; or
• Pressuring someone to sign documents.

Government guidance recognises that coercive control can underpin economic, emotional, psychological and technology-facilitated abuse.

2.4 Economic or financial abuse

Economic abuse may involve controlling or restricting a person’s ability to:

• Obtain or use money;
• Access a bank account;
• Work;
• Pay rent;
• Obtain housing;
• Buy food or essentials;
• Use utilities;
• Retain property; or
• Make independent financial decisions.

Property-related examples

A person may:

• Force a partner to surrender tenancy money;
• Intercept rent refunds;
• Place utility debts in another person’s name;
• Pressure someone to sell a home;
• Prevent a tenant from communicating with the agent;
• Redirect rental income;
• Take control of deposit money;
• Pressure someone to sign a guarantee; or
• Threaten homelessness if instructions are not followed.

2.5 Possible warning signs

Staff may notice that:

• A customer appears frightened of their partner or relative;
• Another person insists on answering every question;
• The customer changes instructions when someone enters the room;
• The customer asks for confidential contact arrangements;
• The customer cannot access their own money or documents;
• A companion refuses to leave the customer alone;
• There are unexplained injuries or property damage;
• The customer repeatedly cancels private appointments;
• One party monitors all calls or emails;
• A former partner demands confidential information; or
• The customer expresses fear about returning home.

2.6 Harassment

Harassment may include:

• Repeated unwanted contact;
• Threats;
• Intimidation;
• Following or monitoring;
• Abusive messages;
• Discriminatory abuse;
• Deliberate property damage;
• Threats to disclose private information; or
• Conduct creating fear or distress.

2.7 Staff response

Employees should not:

• Confront the suspected abuser;
• Accuse someone in front of the customer;
• Ask the customer to prove the abuse;
• contact the alleged perpetrator;
• Leave messages that could place the customer at risk;
• Disclose a safe address;
• Share new contact details; or
• Attempt to mediate an abusive relationship.

The matter should be recorded and escalated in accordance with MyEstate’s safeguarding procedure.

Lesson 2 key point

Domestic abuse may involve control over housing, money, documents and communication even where no physical violence is visible.