It can be very difficult for someone who is experiencing family violence to tell someone and seek help.

You can make a great difference to someone who is experiencing family violence by offering your encouragement and support.

Signs to look out for
Family violence is not always obvious. Some key signs to look out for include:
• The person seems afraid of a family member
• The person has stopped seeing friends or family
• The person seems anxious or depressed, has lost confidence and is unusually quiet
• The person has physical injuries such as bruises, broken bones, sprains or cuts
• The person says that they are being pressured to do sexual things
• Their family member criticises or humiliates the person in front of other people.

How you can help
• Listen to what the person has to say and believe them
• Tell the person that the violence is not their fault
• Encourage the person to seek help
• Be patient and let them come to their own decisions.

For more information about how you can help someone who is experiencing family violence, visit the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Website