Family violence

Family violence covers a broad range of controlling behaviours, commonly of a physical, sexual, and/or psychological nature which typically involve fear, intimidation and emotional deprivation.

It occurs within a variety of close interpersonal relationships, such as between partners, parents and children, siblings, and other relationships where significant others are not part of the physical household but are part of the family and/or are fulfilling the function of family.

Common forms of violence in families/whanau include:

• partner abuse (violence among adult partners)
• child abuse/neglect (abuse/neglect of children by an adult)
• elder abuse/neglect (abuse/neglect of older people aged approximately 65 years and over, by a person with whom they have a relationship of trust)
• parental abuse (violence perpetrated by a child against their parent) and
• sibling abuse (violence among siblings)

Generally a client will have been working with police or another agency, and could provide information to confirm their family violence situation from these groups. Clients may have disclosed violence to the following people:

• the client's doctor
• statements from family and friends
• police reports
• community family violence prevention agency (e.g. Women's Refuge)
• court papers
• a social worker
• the client's church
• any other reputable person or organisation to support a client's statement