Domestic Violence is violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.
Although Domestic Violence is often physical abuse, it does not always have to be. It can also include emotional abuse including coercive control (Domestic Violence Act 2018).
Coercive control is one partner taking control over the others money, your whereabouts or what type of clothing you wear.
Regardless of what level of violence is in the home, it is never acceptable. There are supports available through the following helplines:
Women’s Aid: 1800 341 900
Or by texting ‘’HELLO’’ to 50808.
How can I support my child if there is domestic violence in our home?
It is important to shelter your child from harm at all times. If your child is aware of the abuse in the family home, talk to them.
Advise them that it is not okay and that they need to keep themselves safe as possible from harm during incidents of Domestic Violence in the family home. It may be helpful to make a safety plan with your child to ensure they can keep safe from harm of the perpetrator.
Provide your child with Childline’s freephone number 1800 66 66 66, so that they can speak to a trusted adult if they feel it is something they would like to do. Childline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Safety Plans
A safety plan is a plan for a child or young person to keep themselves safe in the event of an incident of Domestic Violence.
In this plan, ideas of the child keeping themselves safe would be to go to another room, not to get involved in the argument or holding their teddy bear really tight, to help them feel safe.
It might be important if the child had a safe adult they could contact, if it were safe to do so, and speak to them. It is pivotal that children are kept safe from harm, all whilst knowing that this type of violence is never okay.
If you need further support in relation to this, please do not hesitate to contact our Support Line service, that is available Monday to Friday 9am-1pm.