Intimate Partner Violence among current and ex-serving ADF personnel and families

Studies suggest that Intimate Partner Violence is a significant concern for military and veteran families and refers to any behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes:

  • physical,
  • psychological or
  • sexual harm

Intimate Partner Violence can include:

  • acts of physical or sexual aggression
  • psychological abuse
  • controlling behaviour

Projects:

Understanding encounters with Intimate Partner Violence among Australian veterans and families: a preliminary study of service providers in a veteran-specific mental health support service

DVA commissioned Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health to investigate how intimate partner violence is addressed within veteran support services.

This project included:

  • a survey of Open arms Counsellors, clinicians, and peer workers about their encounters with intimate partner violence, and
  • follow-up interviews with clinicians to explore key themes from the survey results.

This project was completed in 2021:

Intimate Partner Violence among current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and families: Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme Data Analyses Project

DVA commissioned Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health to examine the rates of intimate partner violence among current- and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, using data collected in 2015 from a large-scale study of current and recently transitioned ADF personnel and their families.

The report’s findings are available on the DVA website.

How we can support you

Open Arms provides free counselling and mental health support to you and your family. For assessment and referral to Open Arms counselling and mental health services, or if you need immediate support or someone to talk to, you can call Open Arms on 1800 011 046 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 

Where required, Open Arms may be able to assist with supporting clients to access appropriate Family and Domestic Violence support services.