Victims are likely finding strength to come forward after debates about coercive control have become more public. Whilst coercive control is labelled as a “hidden” problem – a recent NSW Council of Social Service report found 60 per cent of domestic violence victims do not report the behaviour to police – the #MeToo movement and young leaders like Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame are paving the way for more victims to come forward.

“It is a big shift for victims who previously may have kept the abuse private or not even recognised it was happening,” Ms Donnelly said.

“However, should this growing recognition continue to rise, it will likely impact the makeup of many final orders, particularly in relation to parenting arrangements.”

Tasmania is currently the only Australian state or territory that has criminalised elements of coercive behaviour. However, South Australia and NSW are considering similar moves and Queensland recently announced the formation of an independent coercive control taskforce. In the 2021 budget, NSW also announced an injection of almost half a billion dollars in funding to strengthen the family law system.

Ms Donnelly said coercive control behaviour has been difficult to establish previously as examples considered in isolation might be dismissed as being misinterpreted or melodramatic.

“Historically, clients, who may be victims of coercive control, have said things like ‘but he’s never hit me’. Now they are identifying the patterns of other forms of abuse in their own relationships and are more openly putting them on the table,” she said.  

“Behaviours like ongoing and consistent threats, intimidation and humiliation. Or unreasonably restricting access to and monitoring communication, constant ‘put downs’ and undermining relationships with children and extended family and friends.

VIEW ALL

“This time around victims seem newly-educated and emboldened and perhaps want to make the perpetrator recognise their behaviour and the impact it has on relationships and family dynamics.”