Family Violence & Co-Parenting

Family Violence, also known as domestic violence, refers to a pattern of abusive behaviour in any intimate relationship where one person seeks to gain and maintain power and control over the other through the use of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial abuse. It can occur between spouses or partners, parents and children, siblings, or any other family members. Family violence can take many forms, including physical violence such as hitting, choking or slapping, sexual violence, emotional abuse such as name-calling or humiliation, controlling behaviour such as limiting access to money or friends, and neglect. It is a serious and widespread problem that can have long-lasting physical and emotional effects on victims and their families.

Family Violence is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on co-parenting. If you or your children have experienced family violence, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your family. Here are some things to consider when dealing with family violence and co-parenting:

Safety is the top priority: If you or your children are in danger, seek help immediately. Call the police or a domestic violence hotline such as 1800 Respect, and make sure you have a safety plan in place.

Consider talking to a therapeutic professional or Family Lawyer who specializes in family violence. They can provide you with guidance and support on how to navigate co-parenting in the context of family violence.

If you are co-parenting with someone who has been violent towards you or your children, it’s important to set clear boundaries. This could include limiting contact, using a parenting app, or seeking an Intervention Order

Keep a record of all incidents of family violence, including dates, times, and details of what happened. This can be useful if you need to involve legal authorities or seek an Intervention Order.

When co-parenting with someone who has been violent, it’s important to prioritize the well-being of your children. Consider seeking counselling for your children and be mindful of how the violence may be affecting them. Children need to know that you are acting to protect them from violence, protect them as much as possible from the impact of seeing one of their parents experiencing violence and to know that they are not going to be put in situations in which they feel unsafe.

Remember that family violence is never okay. You deserve to be and feel safe and protected. If you need help, reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or professional for support.

• Call Police on 000 at any time if you are worried about you or your child’s safety

• 1800 Respect is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service

1800 737 732

www.1800respect.org.au