CAMPAIGNERS against family violence are pressing for the outlawing of coercive control between partners as a way to stop domestic homicides. Queensland is set to hold a domestic violence summit late this month, as police and politicians search for solutions to the domestic violence scourge following the Camp Hill murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children. The Queensland Women’s ... Read More »
THE man stood in the halls of the Southport court barely able to string three words together. A dominating, fearful figure in his own home, he was a pale, bumbling mess. He was about to walk into a court room to listen to police request that a domestic violence order be placed on him. For 12 years, he had intimidated ... Read More »
FOR years, domestic violence trapped the woman like a fog that wouldn’t lift. Every part of her life, from home to work and her relationship with her teenage son, had been impacted by her abusive partner. He was physically violent and he was emotionally abusive. He would monitor the odometer on the car to know how far his partner had ... Read More »
ANTI-domestic violence experts have called for more education on the signs of strangulation as police cope with new cases sparked by a change in legislation. The introduction of non-fatal strangulation to the Queensland criminal code in 2016 has resulted in more than 1400 reported offences. More than half of those were in southeast Queensland. The law was introduced from the ... Read More »
WHEN we started dating, I thought he was the perfect gentleman. He would open doors for me, take me on picnics and buy me flowers. It wasn’t until six months into the relationship when his controlling and manipulative tendencies surfaced. I’m fortunate I got out before things became too serious. Others haven’t been so fortunate – like a friend of ... Read More »
ADDRESSING deficits within Catholic culture has been a consistent message from Church leaders following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Church leaders have said cultural change was needed so neglect in pastoral care when responding to vulnerable victims was not repeated. While domestic violence is outside the commission’s remit, I would posit a similar story could ... Read More »
THE books were kept in the linen cupboard. A collection of novels grouped together near the towels and bedsheets. It seemed an unusual place for this bunch of treasured books, most in excellent condition. The woman with the books in the linen cupboard lived alone. But she couldn’t bring herself to place her books in the open. For years, she ... Read More »
BRISBANE dentist Andrew Teakle stands on the frontline of the domestic violence battle. He has witnessed dozens of cases of broken teeth, broken bones, and bruised and swollen lips and faces – testament to the force and ferocity of a family bashing. Women with facial injuries and broken teeth are often more likely to seek dental treatment than see a doctor, ... Read More »
AUSTRALIA has a major problem that goes to the heart of who we are. As a workplace chaplain I see the effects of domestic violence every day. I also note how overwhelmed non-government organisations and government departments are as they act to ensure that partners and families are responded to urgently, supported in their bid to be safe and well. ... Read More »
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