Why are we hearing about so many tragedies where women and children are being hurt or murdered by family members? What causes a person to harm people they love? Is domestic violence happening more now than ever before?

SpeakOut has been operating for over 40 years, and we have stood beside thousands of women and children who have been hurt by a family member. Every survivor’s experience is different, but the cause is tragically consistent.
It begins when control overrides care.

• When someone chooses to control instead of love,
• to degrade instead of uplift,
• to threaten instead of reassure.

Is this problem growing? In many ways, yes. Today the types of challenges families face is more complex. Rising cost of living, criminal online behaviour and government systems that are more and more difficult to navigate, to name a few. But stress does not cause violence. Violence is a choice.

What needs to change? There is no single solution to a problem this deeply rooted in society, and one that is faced by all cultures, all socio-economic groups, across all locations.
Something that we can all change is social expectations and behaviour within relationships.

Every person deserves relationships built on:

• Safety
• Respect
• Fair decision-making

We must challenge the idea that control, intimidation, or fear have any place in a loving relationship. We must model, teach, and educate healthy relationships.

We believe it is possible to end violence against women and children within our lifetime. Do you agree?

Be part of the change. Support us in our work to prevent, address and respond to domestic, family and sexual violence in NSW. You can donate, volunteer, or simply join and share our social media messages.