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Who does gender-based violence impact?

Gender-based violence can affect:

  • Women and girls.
  • Feminine identifying, transgender, gender-diverse and non-binary people.
  • People who identify as lesbian, gay and bisexual.

Women with disabilities are more likely to experience gender-based violence than any other group of people.

Women with disabilities experience more:

  • Sexual assault
  • Aggression
  • Stalking
  • Lack of control over sex and their bodies, like being forced to use birth control.
Violence is never okay. Partners and supporters should not hurt you. No one should. If you are experiencing abuse, help is available. Please reach out today.

Where does it happen?

Gender-based violence can happen anywhere. It could be at:

  • Work
  • School
  • Home
  • Church or any other religious place
  • A support service or group home.

The violence can come from people like:

  • Intimate partners
  • Companions
  • Family members
  • Friends
  • Strangers.

What does it look like?

Gender-based violence includes sexual, physical, verbal and psychological (emotional) violence. You can read more about types of violence and abuse in the Neve section Violence and abuse (internal link).

For people with disabilities, gender-based violence can be overt, like being hit, kicked or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner or carer. Or, the violence can be covert, like doctors doing medical procedures or giving you medications you don't want without your consent.

Other examples of gender-based violence include:

  • Online hate speech
  • Domestic and family violence
  • Female genital mutilation 
  • Sexual harassment
  • Financial control
  • Keeping someone apart from their friends or family.

What to do after violence or abuse

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 faced gender-based violence. 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 who hurt you. 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.

 

How can we fight gender-based violence?

The United Nations Women website lists 10 things we can do to tackle this problem together. 

  1. Listen to and believe survivors.
  2. Teach the next generation and learn from them.
  3. Call for responses and services that meet our needs.
  4. Understand consent.
  5. Learn the signs of abuse and how you can help.
  6. Start a conversation, online or in person.
  7. Stand against rape culture.
  8. Fund women's organisations.
  9. Don't be a bystander - hold each other accountable.
  10. Know the facts and demand more information.

You can read more about these positive steps On the United Nations Women website (external link).

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

Quinn’s stepdad, Riki, believes Quinn should marry and become a housewife because “that’s what women do”. Quinn tells her family she does not want to get married. Riki yells at Quinn and hits her when she says she doesn’t want to become a housewife. He says that because of her disability she won’t have any other options and that she will never get a job anyway. Quinn inherits money from her grandparents but Riki won't let her have it until she marries. He won't let Quinn go to university, either. This is gender-based violence.

Helplines

This section provides information about helplines - telephone and text services that offer help when you need it. Helplines can give you advice, understanding and links to practical support. Here, you can learn to choose a service that meets your needs and prepare for the call. We also share a list of helplines across Australia. If you have an emergency, call 000 (triple zero) to speak to the police or ambulance.

Find out more

Getting help to be safe from violence and abuse

You might need somewhere safe to stay or money to change the locks on your house. Perhaps you want to talk to a kind and caring person. Whatever you need, support is available when you've experienced violence or abuse. Some services focus on helping people with disability. Here, we share resources to help you build a safer, healthier life.

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

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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

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SECCA

Online dating

Information about online dating.

Check resource

May 4, 2024

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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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Gender-based violence

We value and celebrate difference. Yet, many in our community have experienced violence due to their gender or sex. Violence against women, girls and gender-diverse people is also known as gender-based violence.

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