Glossary

Refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria.

This is consistent with the Aboriginal-led strategy to end family violence, Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families.

The terms ‘Koorie’, ‘Koori’ or ‘First Peoples’ are also used occasionally for specific programs and initiatives.

Used in response to stakeholder feedback, particularly from Aboriginal people, children’s advocates and people who have experienced elder abuse.

The term ‘perpetrator’ is used in some sections when talking about specific programs or responses to adult offenders.

Consent is an agreement between participants to take part in sexual activity. Consent must be active, ongoing, and freely given every time. The age of consent is 16, and it cannot be assumed, coerced, or given by someone underage, intoxicated, unconscious, pressured, or misled. Sharing intimate images also requires consent and both people must be over 18.

For more information visit: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/consent-laws

For support call:

• 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732
• Safe Steps on 1800 015 188

Refers to any act occurring in a relationship with an implication of trust that results in harm to an older person.

The abuse may be:

• physical
• social
• financial
• psychological
• emotional
• social.

It can also include mistreatment and neglect.

Elder abuse is considered a form of family violence when it occurs between family members or people who share a family-like relationship.

Elder abuse does not include professional misconduct or consumer scams.

The use of violence by a current or former intimate partner or family member. This includes people who share a family-like relationship with the person they are harming. For example, it can include:

• carers
• chosen family
• kinship connections for Aboriginal people.

Family violence is not just physical. It also includes:

• emotional abuse
• psychological abuse
• sexual abuse
• cultural abuse
• financial abuse
• neglect
• threatening, coercive and controlling behaviours.

Violence that is used against someone because of their gender.

People of all genders can experience gender-based violence. However, this term is most often used to describe violence against women and girls. This is because most gender-based violence is perpetrated by heterosexual, cisgender men against women, because they are women.[1]

Gender-based violence is driven by rigid gender stereotypes, sexism and disrespect.[2]

Primary prevention of family and sexual violence is a long-term agenda to stop violence before it starts.

It targets the root causes of violence, which are grounded in gender inequality and harmful social norms. This involves addressing the ‘gendered drivers of violence’.

Primary prevention works to change:

• attitudes
• norms
• practices
• structures
• power imbalances.

Our approach to primary prevention is underpinned by Change the story, Australia’s shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women.

A type of violence where any sexual act is attempted or occurs without consent.

Sexual violence can be a form of family violence. It can also be perpetrated outside of a family context.

Terms used to describe a person who has experienced family or sexual violence, including children and young people.

‘Victim survivor’ includes people who may identify more with the ‘victim’ or the ‘survivor’ term at different points. Some people may also feel they have progressed beyond being a survivor.

The Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council guides us on the terms we use. We acknowledge that people harmed by family and sexual violence choose different ways to identify themselves and others.

Refers to violence:

• directed at a woman because she is a woman
• that affects women disproportionately.[3]

The term ‘women’ includes cisgender, trans and gender diverse women and sistergirls.

Refers to people under 18 years of age who use violence.

This term recognises important developmental considerations and the very different service responses that apply to children and young people.

It covers both violence against an intimate partner or in a family setting. We often use ‘in the home’ to refer to violence in a family setting.