Crossing the line - what does this mean?
Crossing the line - what does this mean?
South Australian laws make it clear: you have the right to be safe and treated with respect. You also have the right to say no, especially to sexual activity. So if anyone abuses you, tries to control you or is violent, they're crossing the line. To find out what is and isn't OK in relationships, read on. To find out more about what the law says click here.
What is a Healthy Relationship?
Your Rights in a Relationship
What is Abusive Behaviour?
Anger and Abuse - What's the Difference?
The Cycle of Abuse
Types of Abuse
Getting Support
What is a healthy relationship?
In a healthy relationship, both partners should feel free to express themselves and respect each other's opinions, feelings and friends. This doesn't mean you'll never get angry or upset, but you should solve problems together without any abuse or violence.
Your rights in a relationship
When someone loves you, you feel valued, respected and free to be yourself. You shouldn't be made to feel intimidated or controlled. If you are in a relationship, you must be treated with respect, which means your boyfriend or girlfriend:
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Think about your relationship - do you feel respected?
What is abusive behaviour?
Whenever anyone does something to dominate and control their partner, it's abuse. They might hit, push, or threaten. But abuse isn't only physical; constant put-downs, pressuring for sex, controlling money, and limiting a partner's social contacts are also forms of abuse. So is preventing cultural or religious practices.
Anger and abuse - what's the difference?
Anger is an emotion. Abuse or violence is behaviour to control a situation or a person. People can get angry without getting abusive. In a healthy relationship, you can disagree, argue and raise your voices, but a level of respect and equality between partners remains.
While there may be a whole range of things that people disagree about, differences must be resolved without violence or abuse and without either partner feeling unsafe or fearful.
The cycle of abuse
To find out how to break the cycle of abuse go to Get Help.
| • Physical Abuse | • Sexual Abuse |
| • Pet Abuse | • Object Damage |
| • Financial Abuse | • Male Power Abuse |
| • Religious Abuse | • Threats |
| • Put Downs | • Manipulation |
| • Isolation | • Smothering |
Abuse isn't just physical and sexual. Putting someone down and making hurtful comments about them around others; using threatening language; keeping someone financially dependent and making them ask for money; pressuring someone into doing things they don't want to do; not allowing them to follow their own religious beliefs; and controlling what they do, who they talk to and see, are all types of abuse.
So is isolating someone by not allowing them to have contact with family and friends and checking up on them all the time to see what they are doing and who they are with. Pets can also be harmed as a way of intimidating and threatening someone.
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape and Sexual Assault are types of abuse.
If you've been raped or sexually assaulted, call the Police on 000 or the Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service 24 hour crisis number - 8226 8787 or 1800 817 421 (Country Callers Only) to speak to someone who can help.
Getting support
There's no single type of person who uses violence or abuse to dominate a relationship. Unfortunately, violence and abuse occurs in every country, culture and age group. And it happens in same-sex relationships as well as heterosexual relationships. So basically, anyone could be a victim of abuse.
Here's a list of resources for particular groups. Clicking the links below will open a new browser window/tab containing the selected link:
Violence Against Women with Disabilities
Domestic Violence in gay and lesbian relationships
Child Abuse Report Line
Phone: 13 1478
24 hours, 7 days per week
Child abuse cases are passed on to the Families SA office closest to where the child lives. Social workers, and police in emergency investigations, investigate the reports and work with families to ensure that children are safe. South Australia has a system of mandated child abuse reporting. This is a legal requirement upon certain professions and community members to report suspected child abuse Services
Child abuse support for Aboriginal people
Yaitya Tirramangkotti, an Aboriginal team, provides advice and assistance in cases involving Aboriginal children
Phone: 8203 0470
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
Elder Abuse
www.sa.agedrights.asn.au/abuse_prevent.html
www.sa.agedrights.asn.au/
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse community
Alternative formats of all downloads can be obtained by calling 08 82071555 or by emailing agd@agd.sa.gov.au
Last updated: Friday, September 04, 2009
