If you are at risk or injured right now, please call 000
Worried about your Partner?
If it’s an emergency call the Police on 000
Everyone has a right to be safe.
If you are worried about a partner’s behaviour and actions, here is some information and options for support at WoSSCA.
What is domestic, family, and sexual violence?
Domestic, family and sexual violence can include a range of behaviors and actions. If you are worried about your partner’s behaviours and actions, here is some information and options for support at WoSSCA.
Domestic, family, and sexual violence is a pattern of behaviour aimed at controlling a partner or family member. A combination of tactics and forms of violence are often used to exercise control over women, children, and other family members. The signs of domestic, family and sexual violence are not always physical. Domestic, family and sexual violence is overwhelmingly experienced by women and the people using domestic, family and sexual violence are men.
Types of domestic, family and sexual violence include;
Physical or sexual violence
- Hurting someone like pushing or hitting
- Breaking or smashing objects and materials around the house
- Making the person feel scared to say ‘no’
- Pressuring the person into having sex or performing sexual acts
Verbal/Emotional/Psychological/Cultural or Spiritual Abuse
- Put downs and making a person feel worthless
- Criticising or not letting a person have control over decisions they make
- Manipulation
- Stopping connections to culture or spirituality
Financial Abuse
- Controlling the money and how it is spent, includes not giving money
- Taking out a debt in the other person’s name or making you taken on a debt.
- Stopping other family members from working
- Hiding bank account details
Social Abuse
- Not letting family members see other loved ones, family and friends
- Isolation from family and friends
- Not allowing other family members to have access to phones or social media
Cyber/Technology Abuse (including Image-Based Abuse
- Breaking or taking away phones
- Controlling and monitoring social media and phones. Includes stalking using technology.
- Harassing and or sending threatening messages on phones or social media
- Sending personal pictures without consent
Coercive Control
Coercive control is when a person uses a pattern of abusive behaviour to control their partner. Coercive control can happen in intimate partner relationships and research shows men are often using coercive control against women. Coercive control can make the person afraid and take away their independence and freedom. This pattern of behaviour is often there when a person is experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
Coercive control can include:
- Physical and non physical abuse
- Controlling who a person sees, where they go, what they wear
- Regularly criticising a person/blaming them, which impacts their self esteem
- Making threats to a person, their children or family/friends.
- Making a person feel like they are walking on eggshells
Coercive control can take different forms, if you think you are experiencing coercive control or someone you know, please contact our staff at WoSSCA.
How WoSSCA can help.
In an emergency, call the Police on 000.
WoSSCA's Crisis Accommodation Service
WoSSCA’s Crisis Accommodation Service is open 24 hours a day. If you are not feeling safe, you can contact us by phone, email, or you can come in-person. Our Crisis Accommodation Service is for women and children seeking shelter to escape from domestic, family, and sexual violence
Outreach Service
To contact our Outreach service, you can call us, email, or go to the Crisis Accommodation Service and ask to talk with one of our Outreach Workers. Our Outreach Case Workers offer case management support to women and children experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence, including in remote locations TiTree, Papunya, Yuendmu and Ntaria.
Need further help?
If you are looking for help or information for yourself, please email us:
Alternatively, you can fill out the form below to contact us.
Contact Us
Women's Safety Services
of Central Australia
Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia (WoSSCA) is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation that operates on a feminist framework and is committed to assisting and enabling women and children experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land we work on, as the first people of this country. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past, present and emerging. Our vision is for greater safety, respect and dignity for all women and their children in Central Australia.