Latest news with #NoToViolence
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Sins of the father: the link between unloving dads and domestic violence
A lack of fatherly affection in boyhood is a shared experience of the 120,000 Australian men each year who, for the first time, are violent towards their partner. Men who were sure they'd had an affectionate father or father figure as a child were 48 per cent less likely to be violent than those who were certain they had not. Ten to Men, an Australian longitudinal study of male health, has been tracking more than 16,000 boys and men since 2013. In landmark new findings, the study has revealed a surge in intimate partner violence, which can include physical, sexual and emotional brutality, over the decade to 2022. In 2013 one quarter of Australian men admitted to having ever been violent to a partner. By 2022 that had leapt to one in three - or 35 per cent of men aged 18 to 65. "That's 120,000 men per year - each and every year - that are engaging in this behavior for the first time," Ten to Men program lead Dr Sean Martin said. "So that is concerning and underscores why, from the prime minister down, everyone is now referring to this as a national crisis in need of action," he said. One third of those men acknowledged they'd used emotional violence, while nine per cent admitted to ever "hitting, slapping, kicking or otherwise physically hurting" an intimate partner when they were angry. While previous studies had highlighted violent men's relationship with the mothers, this research delved into paternal bonds. There was also a link between men who were suicidal or had depression and partner violence. "[Men were] 62 per cent more likely to use intimate partner violence if they'd earlier reported significant depressive symptoms," Dr Martin said. "Men who had suicidal thoughts or had made suicidal plans - or even attempts - those men were again later found to [have] an increased use of intimate partner violence." Nick Joseph, who has counselled violent men to change their behaviour for more than a decade, said despite the shared experiences of many abusive men, they were ultimately responsible for their actions. "The thing that's really, really important here is that everybody has a story, but men are still choosing to use family violence," he said. "Regardless of what their level of trauma is - whether there's drugs and alcohol involved, whether they've had a poor relationship with their father - they're still making a choice to use family violence." Mr Joseph said dysfunctional families and entitled or privileged fathers who didn't show affection - or were themselves violent - were features of abusers' backgrounds. Overall, violent men often had low self-esteem, the case manager for No To Violence, which runs the national Men's Referral Service hotline, said. "One of the things that probably sort of stands out for me with all [abusive] men is that they've got a low self-esteem within themselves, and they're not feeling comfortable with who they are, for whatever reason," he said. His advice for fathers was to show their sons it was OK to be vulnerable - and to model equal relationships with women, especially partners or spouses. "Make sure that they're just allowing the space for their partner to speak up, to speak their mind, to not talk over them," Mr Joseph said. Ten to Men program lead Sean Martin said society needed to have open conversations about men's behaviour. "I would argue even more importantly at a society level to start those conversations with friends, with colleagues, around the appropriate attitudes that come to bear in these sort of situations," Dr Martin said. The research was concerning but "sadly not surprising", Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said. "It's critical that we look at the factors that might lead to violence so we can make sure we're funding programs that stop it at the start," she said. "To end domestic and family violence we need to invest in the frontline services that help people and keep them safe, but we also need to stop the behaviours that lead to it." Ten to Men is coordinated through the Australian Institute of Family Studies. A lack of fatherly affection in boyhood is a shared experience of the 120,000 Australian men each year who, for the first time, are violent towards their partner. Men who were sure they'd had an affectionate father or father figure as a child were 48 per cent less likely to be violent than those who were certain they had not. Ten to Men, an Australian longitudinal study of male health, has been tracking more than 16,000 boys and men since 2013. In landmark new findings, the study has revealed a surge in intimate partner violence, which can include physical, sexual and emotional brutality, over the decade to 2022. In 2013 one quarter of Australian men admitted to having ever been violent to a partner. By 2022 that had leapt to one in three - or 35 per cent of men aged 18 to 65. "That's 120,000 men per year - each and every year - that are engaging in this behavior for the first time," Ten to Men program lead Dr Sean Martin said. "So that is concerning and underscores why, from the prime minister down, everyone is now referring to this as a national crisis in need of action," he said. One third of those men acknowledged they'd used emotional violence, while nine per cent admitted to ever "hitting, slapping, kicking or otherwise physically hurting" an intimate partner when they were angry. While previous studies had highlighted violent men's relationship with the mothers, this research delved into paternal bonds. There was also a link between men who were suicidal or had depression and partner violence. "[Men were] 62 per cent more likely to use intimate partner violence if they'd earlier reported significant depressive symptoms," Dr Martin said. "Men who had suicidal thoughts or had made suicidal plans - or even attempts - those men were again later found to [have] an increased use of intimate partner violence." Nick Joseph, who has counselled violent men to change their behaviour for more than a decade, said despite the shared experiences of many abusive men, they were ultimately responsible for their actions. "The thing that's really, really important here is that everybody has a story, but men are still choosing to use family violence," he said. "Regardless of what their level of trauma is - whether there's drugs and alcohol involved, whether they've had a poor relationship with their father - they're still making a choice to use family violence." Mr Joseph said dysfunctional families and entitled or privileged fathers who didn't show affection - or were themselves violent - were features of abusers' backgrounds. Overall, violent men often had low self-esteem, the case manager for No To Violence, which runs the national Men's Referral Service hotline, said. "One of the things that probably sort of stands out for me with all [abusive] men is that they've got a low self-esteem within themselves, and they're not feeling comfortable with who they are, for whatever reason," he said. His advice for fathers was to show their sons it was OK to be vulnerable - and to model equal relationships with women, especially partners or spouses. "Make sure that they're just allowing the space for their partner to speak up, to speak their mind, to not talk over them," Mr Joseph said. Ten to Men program lead Sean Martin said society needed to have open conversations about men's behaviour. "I would argue even more importantly at a society level to start those conversations with friends, with colleagues, around the appropriate attitudes that come to bear in these sort of situations," Dr Martin said. The research was concerning but "sadly not surprising", Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said. "It's critical that we look at the factors that might lead to violence so we can make sure we're funding programs that stop it at the start," she said. "To end domestic and family violence we need to invest in the frontline services that help people and keep them safe, but we also need to stop the behaviours that lead to it." Ten to Men is coordinated through the Australian Institute of Family Studies. A lack of fatherly affection in boyhood is a shared experience of the 120,000 Australian men each year who, for the first time, are violent towards their partner. Men who were sure they'd had an affectionate father or father figure as a child were 48 per cent less likely to be violent than those who were certain they had not. Ten to Men, an Australian longitudinal study of male health, has been tracking more than 16,000 boys and men since 2013. In landmark new findings, the study has revealed a surge in intimate partner violence, which can include physical, sexual and emotional brutality, over the decade to 2022. In 2013 one quarter of Australian men admitted to having ever been violent to a partner. By 2022 that had leapt to one in three - or 35 per cent of men aged 18 to 65. "That's 120,000 men per year - each and every year - that are engaging in this behavior for the first time," Ten to Men program lead Dr Sean Martin said. "So that is concerning and underscores why, from the prime minister down, everyone is now referring to this as a national crisis in need of action," he said. One third of those men acknowledged they'd used emotional violence, while nine per cent admitted to ever "hitting, slapping, kicking or otherwise physically hurting" an intimate partner when they were angry. While previous studies had highlighted violent men's relationship with the mothers, this research delved into paternal bonds. There was also a link between men who were suicidal or had depression and partner violence. "[Men were] 62 per cent more likely to use intimate partner violence if they'd earlier reported significant depressive symptoms," Dr Martin said. "Men who had suicidal thoughts or had made suicidal plans - or even attempts - those men were again later found to [have] an increased use of intimate partner violence." Nick Joseph, who has counselled violent men to change their behaviour for more than a decade, said despite the shared experiences of many abusive men, they were ultimately responsible for their actions. "The thing that's really, really important here is that everybody has a story, but men are still choosing to use family violence," he said. "Regardless of what their level of trauma is - whether there's drugs and alcohol involved, whether they've had a poor relationship with their father - they're still making a choice to use family violence." Mr Joseph said dysfunctional families and entitled or privileged fathers who didn't show affection - or were themselves violent - were features of abusers' backgrounds. Overall, violent men often had low self-esteem, the case manager for No To Violence, which runs the national Men's Referral Service hotline, said. "One of the things that probably sort of stands out for me with all [abusive] men is that they've got a low self-esteem within themselves, and they're not feeling comfortable with who they are, for whatever reason," he said. His advice for fathers was to show their sons it was OK to be vulnerable - and to model equal relationships with women, especially partners or spouses. "Make sure that they're just allowing the space for their partner to speak up, to speak their mind, to not talk over them," Mr Joseph said. Ten to Men program lead Sean Martin said society needed to have open conversations about men's behaviour. "I would argue even more importantly at a society level to start those conversations with friends, with colleagues, around the appropriate attitudes that come to bear in these sort of situations," Dr Martin said. The research was concerning but "sadly not surprising", Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said. "It's critical that we look at the factors that might lead to violence so we can make sure we're funding programs that stop it at the start," she said. "To end domestic and family violence we need to invest in the frontline services that help people and keep them safe, but we also need to stop the behaviours that lead to it." Ten to Men is coordinated through the Australian Institute of Family Studies. A lack of fatherly affection in boyhood is a shared experience of the 120,000 Australian men each year who, for the first time, are violent towards their partner. Men who were sure they'd had an affectionate father or father figure as a child were 48 per cent less likely to be violent than those who were certain they had not. Ten to Men, an Australian longitudinal study of male health, has been tracking more than 16,000 boys and men since 2013. In landmark new findings, the study has revealed a surge in intimate partner violence, which can include physical, sexual and emotional brutality, over the decade to 2022. In 2013 one quarter of Australian men admitted to having ever been violent to a partner. By 2022 that had leapt to one in three - or 35 per cent of men aged 18 to 65. "That's 120,000 men per year - each and every year - that are engaging in this behavior for the first time," Ten to Men program lead Dr Sean Martin said. "So that is concerning and underscores why, from the prime minister down, everyone is now referring to this as a national crisis in need of action," he said. One third of those men acknowledged they'd used emotional violence, while nine per cent admitted to ever "hitting, slapping, kicking or otherwise physically hurting" an intimate partner when they were angry. While previous studies had highlighted violent men's relationship with the mothers, this research delved into paternal bonds. There was also a link between men who were suicidal or had depression and partner violence. "[Men were] 62 per cent more likely to use intimate partner violence if they'd earlier reported significant depressive symptoms," Dr Martin said. "Men who had suicidal thoughts or had made suicidal plans - or even attempts - those men were again later found to [have] an increased use of intimate partner violence." Nick Joseph, who has counselled violent men to change their behaviour for more than a decade, said despite the shared experiences of many abusive men, they were ultimately responsible for their actions. "The thing that's really, really important here is that everybody has a story, but men are still choosing to use family violence," he said. "Regardless of what their level of trauma is - whether there's drugs and alcohol involved, whether they've had a poor relationship with their father - they're still making a choice to use family violence." Mr Joseph said dysfunctional families and entitled or privileged fathers who didn't show affection - or were themselves violent - were features of abusers' backgrounds. Overall, violent men often had low self-esteem, the case manager for No To Violence, which runs the national Men's Referral Service hotline, said. "One of the things that probably sort of stands out for me with all [abusive] men is that they've got a low self-esteem within themselves, and they're not feeling comfortable with who they are, for whatever reason," he said. His advice for fathers was to show their sons it was OK to be vulnerable - and to model equal relationships with women, especially partners or spouses. "Make sure that they're just allowing the space for their partner to speak up, to speak their mind, to not talk over them," Mr Joseph said. Ten to Men program lead Sean Martin said society needed to have open conversations about men's behaviour. "I would argue even more importantly at a society level to start those conversations with friends, with colleagues, around the appropriate attitudes that come to bear in these sort of situations," Dr Martin said. The research was concerning but "sadly not surprising", Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said. "It's critical that we look at the factors that might lead to violence so we can make sure we're funding programs that stop it at the start," she said. "To end domestic and family violence we need to invest in the frontline services that help people and keep them safe, but we also need to stop the behaviours that lead to it." Ten to Men is coordinated through the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Rainbow buildings to highlight 'invisible' issue
Domestic violence survivors in the LGBTQI community often report feeling isolated and invisible in their experiences, with support services few and far between. On Wednesday, buildings across Australia will be lit up in the colours of the rainbow to mark LGBTQI Domestic Violence Awareness Day as a reminder that violence does not discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity. The national day aims to put a spotlight on abuse in LGBTQI relationships and to demand greater visibility, understanding, and support for victim-survivors. More than 60 per cent of LGBTQI people report having experienced domestic or family violence, but many struggle to access the limited support services available to them. An added barrier is seeking help from police and the justice system which historically have not been safe places for the community to access, No To Violence CEO Phillip Ripper said. "There are significant barriers that come with reporting family violence and those are often exacerbated for the queer community," he told AAP. "The justice system has not historically been a friend of the queer community and hasn't been part of achieving justice for them." While services are available in cities, LGBTQI people living in regional and rural Australia can struggle to access support. Ben Bjarnesen, founder of the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, said he felt "invisible" when experiencing abuse in his relationship. "I couldn't find a single service that would support me," he said. "That's why I started this campaign, because too many LGBTQ+ people are being left behind." The See Hear Believe campaign aims to provide practical tools for workplaces, communities and allies to recognise signs of violence in LGBTQI relationships and help connect people to safe, inclusive support. "LGBTQI people can experience all the same methods of abuse as heterosexual people but there are some added ones," Mr Bjarnesen said. "Controlling a person's expression of their gender, controlling their medications or what they wear and isolating them from their community are all signs of abuse." The awareness day was an opportunity to have conversations with the LGBTQI people in your life, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia director Kai Noonan said. "Where we see powerful change is when people in their lives ask them if everything is okay, and days like this are a reminder to check in with those loved ones," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 Domestic violence survivors in the LGBTQI community often report feeling isolated and invisible in their experiences, with support services few and far between. On Wednesday, buildings across Australia will be lit up in the colours of the rainbow to mark LGBTQI Domestic Violence Awareness Day as a reminder that violence does not discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity. The national day aims to put a spotlight on abuse in LGBTQI relationships and to demand greater visibility, understanding, and support for victim-survivors. More than 60 per cent of LGBTQI people report having experienced domestic or family violence, but many struggle to access the limited support services available to them. An added barrier is seeking help from police and the justice system which historically have not been safe places for the community to access, No To Violence CEO Phillip Ripper said. "There are significant barriers that come with reporting family violence and those are often exacerbated for the queer community," he told AAP. "The justice system has not historically been a friend of the queer community and hasn't been part of achieving justice for them." While services are available in cities, LGBTQI people living in regional and rural Australia can struggle to access support. Ben Bjarnesen, founder of the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, said he felt "invisible" when experiencing abuse in his relationship. "I couldn't find a single service that would support me," he said. "That's why I started this campaign, because too many LGBTQ+ people are being left behind." The See Hear Believe campaign aims to provide practical tools for workplaces, communities and allies to recognise signs of violence in LGBTQI relationships and help connect people to safe, inclusive support. "LGBTQI people can experience all the same methods of abuse as heterosexual people but there are some added ones," Mr Bjarnesen said. "Controlling a person's expression of their gender, controlling their medications or what they wear and isolating them from their community are all signs of abuse." The awareness day was an opportunity to have conversations with the LGBTQI people in your life, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia director Kai Noonan said. "Where we see powerful change is when people in their lives ask them if everything is okay, and days like this are a reminder to check in with those loved ones," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 Domestic violence survivors in the LGBTQI community often report feeling isolated and invisible in their experiences, with support services few and far between. On Wednesday, buildings across Australia will be lit up in the colours of the rainbow to mark LGBTQI Domestic Violence Awareness Day as a reminder that violence does not discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity. The national day aims to put a spotlight on abuse in LGBTQI relationships and to demand greater visibility, understanding, and support for victim-survivors. More than 60 per cent of LGBTQI people report having experienced domestic or family violence, but many struggle to access the limited support services available to them. An added barrier is seeking help from police and the justice system which historically have not been safe places for the community to access, No To Violence CEO Phillip Ripper said. "There are significant barriers that come with reporting family violence and those are often exacerbated for the queer community," he told AAP. "The justice system has not historically been a friend of the queer community and hasn't been part of achieving justice for them." While services are available in cities, LGBTQI people living in regional and rural Australia can struggle to access support. Ben Bjarnesen, founder of the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, said he felt "invisible" when experiencing abuse in his relationship. "I couldn't find a single service that would support me," he said. "That's why I started this campaign, because too many LGBTQ+ people are being left behind." The See Hear Believe campaign aims to provide practical tools for workplaces, communities and allies to recognise signs of violence in LGBTQI relationships and help connect people to safe, inclusive support. "LGBTQI people can experience all the same methods of abuse as heterosexual people but there are some added ones," Mr Bjarnesen said. "Controlling a person's expression of their gender, controlling their medications or what they wear and isolating them from their community are all signs of abuse." The awareness day was an opportunity to have conversations with the LGBTQI people in your life, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia director Kai Noonan said. "Where we see powerful change is when people in their lives ask them if everything is okay, and days like this are a reminder to check in with those loved ones," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 Domestic violence survivors in the LGBTQI community often report feeling isolated and invisible in their experiences, with support services few and far between. On Wednesday, buildings across Australia will be lit up in the colours of the rainbow to mark LGBTQI Domestic Violence Awareness Day as a reminder that violence does not discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity. The national day aims to put a spotlight on abuse in LGBTQI relationships and to demand greater visibility, understanding, and support for victim-survivors. More than 60 per cent of LGBTQI people report having experienced domestic or family violence, but many struggle to access the limited support services available to them. An added barrier is seeking help from police and the justice system which historically have not been safe places for the community to access, No To Violence CEO Phillip Ripper said. "There are significant barriers that come with reporting family violence and those are often exacerbated for the queer community," he told AAP. "The justice system has not historically been a friend of the queer community and hasn't been part of achieving justice for them." While services are available in cities, LGBTQI people living in regional and rural Australia can struggle to access support. Ben Bjarnesen, founder of the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, said he felt "invisible" when experiencing abuse in his relationship. "I couldn't find a single service that would support me," he said. "That's why I started this campaign, because too many LGBTQ+ people are being left behind." The See Hear Believe campaign aims to provide practical tools for workplaces, communities and allies to recognise signs of violence in LGBTQI relationships and help connect people to safe, inclusive support. "LGBTQI people can experience all the same methods of abuse as heterosexual people but there are some added ones," Mr Bjarnesen said. "Controlling a person's expression of their gender, controlling their medications or what they wear and isolating them from their community are all signs of abuse." The awareness day was an opportunity to have conversations with the LGBTQI people in your life, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia director Kai Noonan said. "Where we see powerful change is when people in their lives ask them if everything is okay, and days like this are a reminder to check in with those loved ones," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Rainbow buildings to highlight 'invisible' issue
Domestic violence survivors in the LGBTQI community often report feeling isolated and invisible in their experiences, with support services few and far between. On Wednesday, buildings across Australia will be lit up in the colours of the rainbow to mark LGBTQI Domestic Violence Awareness Day as a reminder that violence does not discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity. The national day aims to put a spotlight on abuse in LGBTQI relationships and to demand greater visibility, understanding, and support for victim-survivors. More than 60 per cent of LGBTQI people report having experienced domestic or family violence, but many struggle to access the limited support services available to them. An added barrier is seeking help from police and the justice system which historically have not been safe places for the community to access, No To Violence CEO Phillip Ripper said. "There are significant barriers that come with reporting family violence and those are often exacerbated for the queer community," he told AAP. "The justice system has not historically been a friend of the queer community and hasn't been part of achieving justice for them." While services are available in cities, LGBTQI people living in regional and rural Australia can struggle to access support. Ben Bjarnesen, founder of the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, said he felt "invisible" when experiencing abuse in his relationship. "I couldn't find a single service that would support me," he said. "That's why I started this campaign, because too many LGBTQ+ people are being left behind." The See Hear Believe campaign aims to provide practical tools for workplaces, communities and allies to recognise signs of violence in LGBTQI relationships and help connect people to safe, inclusive support. "LGBTQI people can experience all the same methods of abuse as heterosexual people but there are some added ones," Mr Bjarnesen said. "Controlling a person's expression of their gender, controlling their medications or what they wear and isolating them from their community are all signs of abuse." The awareness day was an opportunity to have conversations with the LGBTQI people in your life, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia director Kai Noonan said. "Where we see powerful change is when people in their lives ask them if everything is okay, and days like this are a reminder to check in with those loved ones," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578
