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Family Violence Prevention - WA
Resources to assist in family violence prevention in Western Australia.
Relationships Australia (WA) provides counselling and support services for individuals, couples and families where family violence or sexual abuse of children has occurred.
When violence is a problem in your family it is important to get help quickly. Violence is NEVER an acceptable way to deal with problems in a family. It is a sign that a relationship is in trouble. Without help, the violence is likely to get worse or happen more often.
Help for Women
If you are a woman who has been abused by your partner, help is available. Relationships Australia offers individual assistance and a support group for women who have been abused by their partners.
The group helps women gain confidence and an increased sense of control over their own lives.
The focus is on:
- developing a plan for safe refuge if the need occurs
- reducing self-blame
- decreasing isolation and dependence on partners
- increasing awareness of self-worth
- developing a broader view of male/female roles
- exploring available options for deciding the future.
The support group of up to 10 women runs for 10 weeks and is held at a number of venues across the metropolitan area.
An individual counselling session is organised before joining the group. Couple and family counselling is offered where appropriate.
Help for Men
If you are a man who has been violent or abusive to your partner or children, you can get help to change your behaviour. Relationships Australia offers individual assistance and a group for men to help them understand and change their violent behaviour.
The focus is on:
- developing alternative methods for dealing with anger and stress
- learning effective ways of expressing feelings and getting needs met
- making connections between early learning and current behaviour
- developing a broader view of male/female roles
- learning to develop trust in others.
The men's group of up to 10 men, runs for 18 sessions and is held at a number of venues across the metropolitan area.
Individual counselling sessions are organised for men before they join the group. Couple and family counselling is offered where appropriate.
Help for Children
If you are a child or teenager who has seen or experienced family violence or abuse in your home, or you are a parent concerned about your child's physical and emotional safety, help is available.
Family violence often has a traumatic effect on children.
Children who witness family violence may learn that violence is an acceptable means of 'getting their own way' and they may have trouble developing healthy relationships in the future.
Child sexual abuse occurs when an adult or a much older child uses a child or adolescent for their own sexual gratification.
This is damaging for a child and is never acceptable.
Relationships Australia offers counselling and support services to children who have:
- been subjected to or witness violence within their parent's relationship
- been sexually abused within their family.
Role of the facilitator, counsellor
Experienced, specialist staff work to help individuals, couples, children and whole families. Group sessions for women, men and children are available. Counsellors come from a variety of backgrounds and interpreters can be arranged.
To speak to a counsellor about dealing with family violence contact the WA office closest to you.
Online Relationship Support
- Misuse of Power & Control in Relationships
- Physical Violence in Relationships
- Ending Relationships Without Using Violence or Abuse
- How Violence and Abusive Behaviour Affects Children
