STALKING AND SURVEILLANCE
Stalking is a serious crime in Australia, and the majority of victims are women. The 2021-22 ABS Personal Safety Survey found 1 in 5 women and over 1 in 15 men have experienced stalking since the age of 15.
Stalking is often a part of domestic and family violence and is a coercive control where a perpetrator attempts to establish and maintain control over the other person. It is also an indicator of other forms of violence, and there is an increased risk of homicide for victim-survivors experiencing stalking and DFV. It’s an issue we must take seriously and do what we can to raise awareness, educate, screen, and support victim-survivors of stalking and surveillance, and where possible, hold perpetrators who stalk to account. I have created a downloadable information sheet for use in your practice. It has five essential tips to support victim-survivors experiencing DFV and stalking.
16 wAYS TO GET INVOLVED WITH 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Taking place annually from 25 November to 10 December, the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign is a time to take action to end violence against women and girls. I have developed a short guide with sixteen ways to get involved with the 16 days of Activism, focusing on coercive control and domestic and family violence. You can download it here.
WHAT IS PET ABUSE?
The misuse and abuse of the human and animal bond is a common form of coercive control. Known as pet abuse, this coercive and controlling behaviour may include threats to the partner about contact with, or violence to, animals and pets.
Here is an information sheet on pet abuse that you can download to learn more.
31 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FOR DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE pREVENTION MONTH
I have developed a guide with 31 social media posts that can be used during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month (May each year). The guide aims to raise awareness about domestic and family violence and coercive control through social media messaging. The content can be copied directly to your social media posts. You can make your own graphics or use the links to external resources in the guide. Please always include support services’ phone numbers with your posts.
COUNTER PARENTING EXPLAINED
Many people have asked me to explain counter parenting - in the context of coercive control and post-separation abuse. It’s the last key point in my post-separation abuse poster, which you can download for FREE from my “Recognising Coercive Control” online toolkit. In response, I have developed a two-page explainer on what it is, what it looks like and some safety strategies (courtesy of my lived experience support group). Please use it with your clients or share it amongst your networks to increase awareness of this coercive tactic.
5 eDUCATIONAL VIDEOS ON COERCIVE CONTROL
Here are a selection of videos on coercive control that you can use for your learning or share with others.
7 KEY LEARNING RESOURCES ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND COERCIVE CONTROL
Here is a downloadable information sheet with 7 key learning resources to read, watch and listen to.
9 gOOD BOOKS ON COERCIVE CONTROL
I’ve read a lot of books on coercive control over the years! I have shared 9 good books on coercive control in a downloadable Information Sheet. Some of these books are academic and others provide lived experiences on coercive control.
Enjoy your reading!
10 SELF CARE TIPS FOR PARENTS
Do you work with parents of children who have been exposed to family or sexual violence? Parenting can be stressful in ordinary circumstances but parenting children experiencing trauma, brings with it a lot more strain and stress for parents. This is why it is important to remind parents that self-care is essential for them. You are welcome to use this free client resource and give to your parents.