FOLLOWING a state government awareness campaign, one in two people in New South Wales have now heard of coercive control and understand what it means.
Independent research shows awareness and understanding of coercive control has increased since the campaign, It’s Not Love, it’s Coercive Control, was launched, compared to one in three people prior.
Among those who saw the campaign, more than 75 per cent took some form of positive action, such as discussing coercive control with others, reflecting on their own or other relationships or visiting applicable websites for more information.
More people can also now correctly identify key behaviours linked to coercive control, such as threats, manipulation or monitoring someone’s movements.
Ngala Women’s Refuge manager Pattie Wood applauds the It’s Not Love, it’s Coercive Control campaign.
“It’s great to see such a positive impact from the campaign,” Mrs Wood said.
“Raising awareness about coercive control is an important step in helping individuals recognise and respond to unhealthy relationships.
“The fact that more than 75 per cent of people took positive actions, like discussing it with others or seeking further information, shows that education and awareness can be powerful tools in combating this form of abuse.
“It’s also encouraging to see key behaviours like threats, manipulation, and surveillance being recognised more widely,” she said.
In New South Wales, coercive control became a criminal offence in current or former intimate partner relationships on July 1 last year.
“With coercive control now a criminal offence in New South Wales, it’s clear that both public awareness and legal frameworks are evolving to protect vulnerable individuals,” Mrs Wood said.
“Ngala House is committed to maintaining this momentum and continuing the fight to end coercive control in all its forms.”
Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour which may include financial abuse, threats against pets or loved ones, tracking someone’s movements, or isolating them from friends and family to control them.
Campaign results will help inform ongoing campaigns for new target audiences, including older people, people with disability, and additional culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, said the It’s Not Love, it’s Coercive Control campaign has raised community awareness.
“The campaign has empowered people to take positive steps towards better understanding the signs of abuse,” Ms Harrison said.
“Coercive control is insidious and can manifest in many ways, but it can also be easily overlooked, excused, or not recognised as abuse.
“Along with the implementation of coercive control laws since July last year, people in New South Wales can understand the seriousness of these behaviours and that coercive control is a crime,” she said.
NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said coercive control in current or former intimate partner relationships is criminal behaviour and is punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment.
“We know from the results of this awareness campaign that there is awareness of coercive control in the community and that the justice system is responding,” Mr Daley said.
“We also know legal reform is just one of the ways we are tackling domestic and family violence with a whole-of-government approach.”
Women’s Community Shelters CEO Annabelle Daniel said the domestic and family violence sector knows the devastating impact of coercive control.
“It’s heartening to see so many people took positive action after seeing this campaign – talking with a friend or colleague, researching further, or reaching out to someone,” Ms Daniel said.
“The campaign represents the efforts of so many advocates, including many with lived expertise.
“Building understanding and awareness of coercive control across New South Wales, along with providing support to those experiencing it, will help us meaningfully interrupt cycles of violence.”
LAST year, new laws were passed to better protect victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, including tougher penalties for breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order in certain circumstances.
The new offences target conduct that may indicate a high risk of harm to the protected person.
These include an intentional breach offence directed at serious or harmful breaches of ADVOs due to the offender’s intention to cause harm or fear to the protected person.
This offence carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment.
A persistent breach offence directed at repeated breaches of ADVOs over a short period of time, reflecting a clear disregard for the conditions of the ADVO, was also passed.
This offence will carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
These new aggravated offences will complement the existing offence for any breach of an ADVO, which has a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.
A new civil protection order scheme targets serious domestic and family violence offenders.
The Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Order provides law enforcement with a tool to monitor and supervise very high-risk offenders, with the aim to keep relatives and former, current or potential future intimate partners safe from violence.
The scheme allows the court to impose any conditions it considers appropriate to prevent the perpetrator engaging in domestic abuse.
Orders may include a requirement to report to a police station at an appointed time or to notify police when commencing an intimate partner relationship, and a restriction on the use of social media and dating apps.
Breaching an SDAPO carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
Other legislative reforms passed include:
Changes to the definition of stalking to expressly include the monitoring and tracking of a person’s activities, communications or movements through the use of technology, such as using GPS trackers or monitoring the victim’s online accounts.
Allowing police to issue a provisional AVO electronically where the parties consent, instead of requiring police officers to take individuals to a police station to print out a physical copy of the order.
An amendment to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act 1995 to allow a sole parent with an appropriate court order to change their child’s name.
These new domestic violence laws further enhance protections for victim-survivors after the criminalisation of coercive control and stronger bail laws came into effect last year.
They also complement measures announced in the 2024-25 NSW Budget, including an investment of $245.6 million to improve support for domestic and family violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children.
$45 million of this package has been set aside to improve bail laws and justice system responses to domestic violence.
Attorney General Michael Daley said the new laws will strengthen the justice system to better protect victim-survivors and support their safety.
“We will continue to consult legal and sector stakeholders as we seek to improve laws and justice system responses to domestic violence.”
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero (000).
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656463 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact RESPECT on 1800 737732 or YARNUP on 13 92 76.
