You may feel as though there is something wrong at home, but you don’t know what. If you are experiencing any or all of the following at home, it may be an indication that something is wrong, and that you might be experiencing family or domestic violence.
- Do you not want to spend time with your family because you are afraid of something bad happening?
- Do you feel that you are constantly on edge?
- Does a family member or someone in your household hurt or scare you or another family member?
- Does a family member or someone in your household constantly insult you or another family member?
- Does a family member or someone in your household do or say things that make you and others afraid of him or her?
- Does a family member or someone in your household try to use you to make someone else feel bad?
- Do you feel unsafe at home?
Family and domestic violence happens when one family member (or someone else within your household) tries to hurt or control the other. The person using domestic violence can be your dad or mum, your uncle or aunt, or your grandparents. Family and domestic violence also occurs if you are forced to watch or hear a family member (or someone else within your household) abuse another. It is also not always physical. It can look like:
- Swearing, shouting and yelling
- Throwing or breaking things
- Starting fights
- Reading/accessing messages and social media without your consent
- Forcing someone to have sex when they don’t want to
- Not letting someone in the household have a job or money
- Touching that makes you feel uncomfortable
Experiencing family violence can be frightening, even if you are not the one getting hurt.
Remember that no matter what happens, you are not alone. Family and domestic violence is never your fault and it is not okay to have to witness family violence. You are not responsible for what your family members do.
It can sometimes be difficult to find someone to talk to in the country. If you need someone to talk to, you can call Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800. You can call Kidsline at any time, for any reason, and they will keep your call anonymous. You can also visit them online. Alternatively, you might prefer to speak to a trusted adult, such as a teacher, about what you are experiencing.
Another helpful website that you might like at visit to find out more information about family and domestic violence is What’s Ok at Home?
The above information has been sourced directly from:
