What if it is domestic, family and sexual violence?

We use the words intimate partner when talking about domestic violence.

This means someone the person has or had a close romantic or sexual relationship with. It could be a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, partner, date friend, or someone they were seeing or chatting with online.

This can happen in both heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ relationships.

An intimate partner includes someone who:

• Had or has a sexual relationship

• Was a casual hook-up or fling

• Was a romantic or emotional connection (even without sex)

• Was chatting on a dating app or site, or texting

• Met in person or spoke on the phone

• Was married or in a de facto relationship

• Was a past or current partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend

If someone in this type of relationship uses violence — it’s domestic violence.

We use the words family relationship when talking about family violence.

This means someone in your family or extended family is using violence or control.

It can include:

• Parents

• Children

• Grandparents

• Brothers and sisters

• Aunties and uncles

• Cousins

Family violence can happen in families related by blood, marriage, de facto, adoption, or foster care.
For First Nations people, this also includes kinship, extended family, and community relationships.

If a family member uses violence or control — it’s family violence.

Sexual violence can be done by someone the person knows — or by a stranger.

It can happen in relationships, families, friendships, workplaces, or in the community.

Sexual violence includes things like:

• Pressuring someone into sex or sexual acts

• Not stopping when someone says “no”

• Touching someone in a sexual way without permission

• Doing sexual things when someone is asleep or unable to say yes

• Removing or not using condoms without permission

• Not telling someone they have a sexually transmitted infection

Sexual violence doesn’t always leave physical injuries. It’s still serious.