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Who is affected?

Many people in our community have experienced coercive control. Around 1 in 4 women have had a partner who tried to control them. Women with disabilities are more likely to experience coercive control than most other Australians.

The person using coercive control might use physical violence and threats to control another person, or they might control them in another way.

For example, someone might use your disability to make you believe you can't make decisions for yourself, even when that is not true.

Everyone has the right to make choices about things that affect them. You shouldn't feel guilty for having needs and wants. You shouldn't feel guilty about saying "yes" to one thing and "no" to another.

Where does it happen?

Coercive control usually happens inside a relationship. It could be with a romantic partner, companion, carer or family member. However, you don't have to be in a relationship to face coercive control. It is common after separation or divorce, too.

Is it easy to recognise?

Coercive control can be hard to recognise. People outside the relationship may not notice the abuse. You might not even realise it's happening to you.

Reasons why it is hard to recognise coercive control include:

  • There may be no physical abuse, like hitting or kicking. Instead the person gets control in other ways.
  • The person experiencing the abuse might doubt themselves. They might believe the person using coercive control when they say, "I didn't do that" or "You're imagining it."
  • The person experiencing the abuse might think its normal. It may be similar to how they've been treated in the past. They might think, "If no one else notices, it must be okay."

What does it look like?

Coercive control is different for everyone, but it always reduces your ability to make choices for yourself.

A person using coercive control might:

  • Isolate you. They may keep you from your friends, family and support networks. If you spend time with others, they might accuse you of cheating or treating them badly.
  • Track what you do and where you go.
  • Get you to do all the housework, like doing all the cooking, cleaning and laundry.
  • Tell you that you are not capable of tasks you can do.
  • Use your children against you and criticise your parenting. They might put you down in front of your children. They might say that you're a terrible parent.
  • Control how much money you have.
  • Control how you spend your money.
  • Insult you.
  • Control your health and body, like how much food you eat, your medication, or how much exercise you do.
  • Control your sex life. For example, they might make demands about the amount and type of sex you have.
  • Tell you that you are "crazy" or "paranoid" when you complain. This is sometimes called gaslighting.  

What to do if you've experienced coercive control

The first thing to do is to make sure you are safe. Look after your body and your emotions. If you are in danger, go somewhere safe. Seek medical attention if you need it.

Then, take a deep breath. We're sorry you've had to deal with this. We hope the situation gets better. We know that experiencing violence or abuse can be confusing, intimidating, and stressful. People may try to make you believe it is your fault. Sometimes, leaving the situation is hard.

Remember that you are never to blame for bad behaviour. What happened to you is not your fault.

Here is a list of things you could do if you’ve experienced coercive control. You should choose the options that are right for you.

  • Call 000 if you or anyone else is in immediate danger. If this makes you feel nervous or unsure, you can learn more about the process on the Neve page A guide to calling triple zero (000) (internal link).
  • Leave the situation. This can be a very positive step if you live with the person using coercive control. However, it is important to think things through and prepare. Learn how to safely leave a violent or abusive situation on the Neve page How to be safe when leaving an abusive relationship (internal link).
  • Stay and plan how to cope with the violence or abuse. You may not be ready to leave the situation. In that case, think about how you can be safer while you stay. Learn about safety planning in the Neve section on Becoming safer (internal link). People who have been abusive sometimes stop. However, it can also get worse over time. Abuse does not stop unless the person admits the harm they have done, wants to change their behaviour and takes action to change it. Change is unlikely if they keep blaming you or make excuses for themselves. Even if someone wants to change, it may take a long time.
  • Seek support from friends and family members. Tell the person you confide in what would and would not be helpful for you. For example, you might just want to talk. Or, you might want practical help. Let them know not to confront the person who has hurt you. It can make the abuse worse. They should focus on you and what you need to be safer and feel supported.
  • Keep records of the bad behaviour. If it is safe, save phone call logs, text messages, photos or other evidence. If you need help doing this, ask a trusted person to help you. If you decide to go to the police later, you will have evidence to show them.
  • Get legal help. You can use legal support to be safer, like restraining orders and protective orders. You can also get advice about whether something that happened to you is a crime. Learn about legal support options on the Neve page Accessing legal support and the courts  (internal link).
  • Develop more financial independence. This can help you leave when you are ready. You can learn about managing your money on the Neve page Help managing your money (internal link).
  • Report the abuse to authorities. You can call your local police. You can speak to a government organisation, like an Ombudsman or the Australian Human Rights Commission.
  • Call a helpline. Australia has many helplines that offer practical advice and support for people experiencing violence or abuse. You can find a list of numbers and resources on the Neve page Helpline directory (internal link).
  • Speak to a counsellor. If you have difficulties you can't manage alone, see a counsellor, therapist or psychologist. Learn about the different options on the Neve page Counselling and therapy (internal link).
  • Know your rights. Everyone has the right to live free from violence and abuse. Learn about your rights in the Neve section Our rights (internal link).
  • Look after yourself. Caring for yourself is important if you have experienced violence or abuse. You can learn how to be calm and more empowered on the Neve page Caring for yourself (internal link).
  • Talk to your service coordinator. This can help if the person who harmed you provides a service related to your disability, like physiotherapy, gardening, cleaning or anything else in your NDIS plan. Tell the service coordinator what happened, and what you’d like to happen next, including if you want your complaint to remain confidential. You might want to offer feedback about the inappropriate behaviour but still work with the person. Or, you might want a new person to provide the service for you.
  • Make a complaint to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. If the person who harmed you is an NDIS provider, you can complain to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Learn more on the NDIS Commission website (external link).

Having a disability can make it harder to escape violence and abuse. Limited mobility or social isolation might make it harder to get help. Moving out or getting away from the person who hurts you can seem impossible when money is in short supply. However, help is available.

Even if the person who hurt you is important to you, you can still get help. Many people are hurt by someone they know. It may be an intimate partner, a parent or carer, or someone else in authority, such as a health worker or service provider. You don't have to go to the police if you don't want to. Either way, support is available to keep you safe and help you recover.

1800 RESPECT

If you experience violence or abuse you can contact 1800 RESPECT for support and counselling.
Call 1800 737 732 or go to the 1800 RESPECT website to chat with someone online (external link).

‍To contact 1800RESPECT via SMS, text ‘HELLO’ or any greeting to 0458 737 732 to start the conversation.

Story

Avery is very close to their family but Avery's partner regularly says horrible things about them. Lately, he has been getting angry when Avery wants to see their family. He won't talk to Avery for days afterwards. Avery feels guilty and decides not to see their family after all. This is an example of coercive control.

How to find practical help

This section of the website lets you know where to go and what to do when you need help. People who've been hurt by violence will find advice here, but others will find it helpful, too. There is information about legal support, health services, money, sex and relationships and violence and abuse. If you are in a difficult situation and don't know what to do, the strategies here can make a difference.

Find out more

Healing after violence and abuse

Experiencing violence and abuse can affect your ability to live a satisfying life. It can leave you feeling afraid and unsafe. You might find yourself reliving difficult situations over and over. It means you've experienced trauma. With the proper support, you can heal. Here, you can learn what trauma is like. You can learn how to recover.

Find out more

Resources.

May 13, 2024

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Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence

You have rights - Easy Read

A guide for women with disability experiencing family and domestic violence.

Check resource

May 13, 2024

|

Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence

Your rights

A guide for women with disability and mothers of children with disability who have experience of family and domestic violence.

Check resource

May 13, 2024

|

SECCA

Online dating

Information about online dating.

Check resource

May 4, 2024

|

1800 RESPECT

Escape bag checklist

If you are going to leave a relationship, deciding what to take with you is an important step in creating a safety plan. This checklist helps you plan what you may need to take if you need to leave.

Check resource

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Coercive control

If you feel guilty or afraid to make your own choices, you may be experiencing coercive control. It happens when one person often dominates and controls another. It can make you feel isolated and afraid. Your self-esteem can suffer. It's a form of abuse. On this page, we help you recognise the problem. We share advice about what to do.

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