Violence between family members is subject to legal intervention in the same way as violence between strangers.

Domestic and family violence is recognised to take many forms, including physical or sexual abuse, but also emotional and psychological harm, social isolation and financial control. Domestic and family violence can also occur through the use of technology and devices.

Coercive control is an insidious form of domestic violence that involves tactics of emotional abuse that undermine the victim's autonomy and sense of identity and worth.

It is a pattern of behaviour that can involve a perpetrator:

Despite the significant harm through isolation, subordination, humiliation and loss of liberty caused by coercive and controlling behaviours, victims may downplay the impact of these controls and may not seek help if they have not also experienced physical or sexual abuse.

If domestic and family violence comes to the attention of police, they may issue an intervention order (see Intervention orders) or lay criminal charges against the perpetrator (see Criminal charges).

Even though not all forms of domestic and family violence carry a criminal sanction and penalty, all forms are often relevant in various legal contexts, for example, all forms are relevant when a court is making intervention orders or parenting orders. For more information about how the courts are guided to approach cases involving domestic and family violence, please refer to the National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book.

Legal remedies can sometimes be of limited use in a crisis. It is more often the practical steps and planning a person can take which will be of much greater significance for their safety than reliance on legal remedies alone.

For information on domestic and family violence and the law in Australia, visit the Family Violence Law Help website.

For information on domestic and family violence services that can help South Australian women and girls, including in Auslan, see our Abuse Prevention Accessible Videos.

Helpful contacts

In an emergency: 000

For police attendance: 131 444

Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 1800 800 098

1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732