P4. Responding appropriately to disclosures

How to appropriately respond to a disclosure of family or sexual violence

How you respond to a disclosure of family or sexual violence can make a difference to a victim-survivor’s recovery. If a victim-survivor feels supported and encouraged, they may feel stronger and more able to make decisions.

People experiencing family and sexual violence often give a lot of consideration to who they can trust, and who is likely to listen.

If someone chooses to talk about their thoughts, feelings and choices with you, the most important thing is to listen without judgement and help them find ways to be safe. Your involvement doesn’t mean you have to solve the situation.

Informed non-judgemental responses to disclosures of family violence promote help-seeking. If someone discloses to you that they are experiencing family violence, your response needs to elicit feelings of safety, respect and control. This type of response validates the victim-survivor’s disclosure and offers support.

When supporting someone experiencing family and sexual violence, it can be valuable to consider:

  • It may be the first time they have disclosed that they are in an abusive relationship
  • The violence may have increased in severity since the emergency event
  • It may be the first time they have experiencing violence in the relationship
  • They may be traumatised

  • Be aware that women are at increased risk of violence, during and after an emergency event
  • Include questions about safety and violence in service intake forms (eg for evacuation centres)
  • Clearly state that the emergency event is no excuse for family violence
  • Listen to them and believe them
  • Take the abuse and violence seriously
  • Thank them for telling you
  • Acknowledge their strength and courage
  • Validate their feelings
  • Reassure them the violence is not their fault
  • Encourage them to get support from a specialist family and sexual violence service
  • Offer practical support
  • Respect their right to make their own decisions
  • Don’t be judgmental or pressure them to leave their relationship
  • Maintain regular contact
  • Keep providing support after they have left the relationship
  • Know the relevant specialist services that can assist you in supporting women experiencing the impacts of violence and refer, for example:
    • For someone impacted by family violence, they can call the Safe at Home Family Violence Response and Referral Line on 1800 633 937.
    • For someone impacted by sexual violence, they can call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 697 877.
    • In an emergency, always call 000
  • Making excuses for the abuse (eg due to stress, anger, alcohol/drunken state)
  • Sympathising with what the perpetrator may be going through as if it is an excuse or justifies their violent behaviour
  • Suggesting that there are bigger problems to deal with right now or that other people have it much worse
  • Discouraging someone from reporting the abuse on account of the perpetrator’s vulnerability or fragility in the aftermath of an emergency event

Referral

If someone has disclosed that they are experiencing family violence, provide them with information and resources and encourage them to contact a service provider.

  1. If it is safe to do so, ask:
  • “Has anyone in your family done something that made you or your children feel unsafe or afraid?”
  • “Do you have any immediate safety concerns for yourself, any children or family members in your care?”
  1. Contact a specialist family violence service for advice on how to support the victim-survivor. They can assist with risk assessment and management, including determining if immediate intervention and coordinated responses are required. Visit the Safe from Violence Service Directory to find an appropriate service in Tasmania.
  2. Provide the victim-survivor with information about the support available. This may include contact details for a service, or details of Apps, such as Daisy. Please be aware that it may not be safe for someone to take printed information about family violence home with them.
  3. Refer the victim-survivor for specialist family violence support if you believe they are at serious risk.

If the victim-survivor refuses your offers of support, or tells you that everything is fine, but you are still concerned, make sure they know that there is support available, and that you can have another discussion when they are ready.

That brings us to the completion of this module

In summary:

  • While there is no single cause, and the causes and contributors are complex, family and sexual violence is driven by gender inequality. Other factors may interact with, or reinforce, gender inequality and contribute to increased frequency and severity of violence, but do not drive violence in and of themselves.
  • Australian and international research shows a strong link between the increases in violence against women following emergency events.
  • Following an emergency event, there are a range of factors that lead to increased vulnerability. This includes grief, loss, trauma, homelessness, unemployment, families may be forced to spend more time together in crowded and/or unfamiliar environments, sense of loss of control, and increased alcohol and drug use.
  • People experiencing family and sexual violence face additional barriers to accessing help. There are many reasons why victim-survivors remain living in an abusive relationship and why they return. These barriers include fear, isolation, financial, housing, not being believed, shame, and embarrassment.

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Completion Form and Certificate

For more information about family and sexual violence in Tasmania, please visit www.safefromviolence.tas.gov.au.

For resources such as fact sheets, posters and posters regarding family and sexual violence that are available for download, please visit https://www.safefromviolence.tas.gov.au/resources-hub/fact-sheets.

 

If you or someone you know is impacted by family violence call the Safe at Home Family Violence Response and Referral Line on 1800 633 937.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual violence call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 697 877.

In an emergency, always call 000

For more information about family and sexual violence in Tasmania, please visit www.safefromviolence.tas.gov.au.

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