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Are we looking at domestic violence in the right way?

Violence against family members is as serious as it is widespread, writes Joplin Higgins.

user iconJerome Doraisamy 02 October 2019 SME Law
Joplin Higgins
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I have been working in family law and particularly in matters about domestic violence for more than two decades. So, let me start by saying that I believe that during this time, our ability as a community to have discussions about domestic violence has increased. I would like to add that this has been with much thanks to those on the front line such as the police force as well as the agencies and organisations who help people manage and re-establish their lives post-violence and trauma.

So, my next logical point might lead to a theory that says, in 2019 the net result should be that additional awareness has had a positive effect on frequency and number of incidents. Sadly, this is not the case.

In Australia, one woman will be killed by her current or former intimate partner every week and one in three women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. These figures become more alarming in terms of sexual, emotional and financial abuse. This also does not even scratch the surface of the enormous effect on the individual nor the social or economic impacts that violence causes in our community.

Let’s put this now under the lens of the ‘lucky country’. Most Australians believe that we have to celebrate and while I am not naive enough to say that every person in this country has every opportunity afforded to them, it is well-reported that our country is ranked generically among the globe’s most economically stable and prosperous places to live.

Logically one might also be led to think that we have a good set of foundations to successfully reduce violence. In many ways we do, however I think we need to consider what reducing domestic violence looks like? Is it about declines in reportable figures? Less deaths? Less perpetrators? Less victims? I suspect all the above and more.

From my perspective it is about stopping the cycle of violence at its roots. This means changing perpetrators behaviour and making sure that they, as well as the children and victims who witness violence, understand that violence is never acceptable.

I have been incredibly fortunate to have witnessed a batterers intervention program (BIP) that has had remarkable results in the US. Developed and run by Steve Halley and the team at Family Peace Initiative (FPI), the program requires participants to accept responsibility for the cruelty and violence they’ve done to others and, importantly, to take responsibility for healing the impact of the cruelty that was done to them before they were able to do anything about it.

The effectiveness of the program was evaluated in 2015 and, of the 2,012 participants that completed it, 88 per cent had not been charged with another “person” crime and 90 per cent had not had another protection order filed against them since they completed the program.

When I observed this program and compared it to what I’d seen in Australia, two elements stood out. Firstly, it was that participation in the program requires a minimum commitment of 32 weeks in attendance – it takes time to bring about deep change. Secondly, the model combines cognitive-behavioural therapy with a trauma-informed approach, which replaces violent behaviours with acceptable ones while also healing the fear, grief, anger and sadness that perpetrators carry from the cruelty they’ve experienced while growing up. I believe it is this link between recovery and resilience that facilitates this level of results.

While Australia has a number of men’s behavioural change programs, I believe we would see greater success if they incorporated a trauma-informed approach.

So while I write about the sad prevalence of domestic violence in Australia today, this commentary is also about asking that policymakers, law makers and the people at the front line to start advocating to use this tried and tested model, based on trauma-informed therapy, rather than revamping or creating new ones.

Adopting a model which is transforming individuals and families is, I believe, the most expedient way to reduce domestic violence in Australia.

Joplin Higgins is the managing director of Joplin Lawyers.

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.

You can email Jerome at: jerome.doraisamy@momentummedia.com.au 

Comments (12)
  • Avatar
    Although the incidence of non-therapeutic neonatal circumcision started to decline in Australia in 1971 I think we are still seeing the impact. What we do to our children, they do to society. Read Ronald Goldman Ph.D "Circumcision The Hidden Trauma". This work is endorsed by professionals in psychology, psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics, child development, childbirth education, sociology and anthropology. There are well-established psychological effects into adulthood of those who experienced circumcision as an infant. The mother-child relationship is even impacted and this has been shown to have an impact on adult relationships. Men suffering from this inner torment may benefit from PTSD treatment or similar. Levels of world violence can easily be correlated to rates of circumcision, by country, nationality, etc. Coincidence? I doubt it. We need to start understanding the basis for domestic violence may likely come from the pain we inflict on our newborns. Programs that incorporate this psychological approach are needed.
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      Really? This is nonsense. Next we will be told male lawyers with erectile dysfunction are victims of female tongue lashings as the preferred female form of domestic violence. All this carrying on about domestic violence needs to be put in perspective. It’s actually not that common. Most men love their wives and most wives love their husbands. Thank God they ignore this endless social drivelling as do most lawyers who have real clients and real jobs to get done.
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    Quite correct but you sometimes wonder. Men are the subject of endless lectures about their appalling “toxic masculinity” etc etc plus their verbal abuse. But I reckon women can do verbal abuse better and the female of the species is deadlier than the male. My point was it’s all getting very boring to keep hearing about and I am sure many of us have long since tuned out.
    David wrote:
    Good lord... I had to read that twice. Are you seriously asking "Why is it OK for a woman to kill a man who beats her but not OK for a man to lose control after verbal abuse by a woman?"??
    Neither is OK.
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      I am sure it is indeed very boring for the women who keep being beaten and killed by their partners, too. Men can either be part of the problem (as comments like this are) or part of the solution.
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        Yes it is all very boring. 52 women a year are murdered by boyfriends, de factor, husbands, etc, thousands of babies are killed by their mothers each year, millions of refugees dies across the world each year.... it goes on and on and on. All you or I can do is watch how we behave, the rest is emotional self indulgence.
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      "Women can do verbal abuse better" - because verbal abuse is such a good defence when you're being beaten to death. "The female of the species is deadlier than the male" - clearly not so by any meaningful measure. These trivialising comments are not helping.
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    "Why is it OK for a woman to kill a man who beats her but not OK for a man to lose control after verbal abuse by a woman?" Hmmm, I see why you posted as "Anonymous".
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    Violence is never acceptable, unless it is being done on behalf of the State. Then it is acceptable. Think about a slogan like "Violence against men is never OK." You would be laughed at. Violence against men is always acceptable otherwise boxing matches would be illegal instead of pay per view, football I suppose. The list is long.
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    This is all getting hysterical. 52 women killed a year is indeed terrible. But what is the population of Australia and how many men die each year? How many women kill? How man men commit suicide because of false rape claims? Why is it OK for a woman to kill a man who beats her but not OK for a man to lose control after verbal abuse by a woman? The list of human woe and misery is endless and lawyers and psychologists are never going to be out of business. But do we really need to be beaten over the head with it every day?
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      Yes we do - political correctness can only deal with one issue at a time.
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    • Avatar
      Good lord... I had to read that twice. Are you seriously asking "Why is it OK for a woman to kill a man who beats her but not OK for a man to lose control after verbal abuse by a woman?"??
      Neither is OK.
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      "Beaten over the head with it every day" - what a poor choice of words. Come back with your whataboutery when, and only when, more than than 1 man per week is being killed by their partner.
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