Information and practice resources on coercive control and intimate partner sexual violence.
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“Coercive control is often defined as a pattern of controlling behaviour, used by a perpetrator to establish and maintain control over another person. Coercive control is almost always an underlying dynamic of FDV and intimate partner violence (McLindon et al. 2025). Perpetrators use coercive control to deprive another person of liberty, autonomy and agency (Cortis and Bullen 2015; ANROWS 2021).” Cited AIHW
In 2025, Safe and Equal consulted extensively with member services, survivor advocates and reviewed contemporary literature and data. This paper maintains the position against criminalising coercive control in Victoria.
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View various resources and policy briefs on the ANROWS website.
Impacts of coercive control on children: Perceptions of mothers from culturally and/or racially minoritized migrant background in Australia | Jess Kirwan, Cathy Vaughan, and Karen Block, 2026 | Read moreThis research explores how coercive control affects children and family functioning in migrant backgrounds, highlighting its significant and often overlooked impacts and the need for more culturally responsive support.
“He Learned Many Things, But Was Reflecting Them Onto Me” The Unintended Consequences of Perpetrators Programs for Victims of Coercive Control and Their Children | Isabelle Côté, Simon Lapierre & Tony McGinn, 2026 | Read moreAlthough perpetrator programs aim to promote accountability and victim safety, limited research on their unintended consequences means they may inadvertently increase risks for women and children. This paper answers the following research question: “What are the unintended consequences of perpetrator programs for victims of coercive control and their children?”
Coercive control and situational couple violence in families with child protection involvement: A case-file analysis | Ulrike Marwitz, Daryl J. Higgins and Thomas Whelan, 2024 | Read moreThis study analyses child protection case files to distinguish coercive control from situational couple violence and examines how these patterns shape risk, child safety, and intervention outcomes.
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A discussion paper by SASVic, providing an overview of key issues and literature examining the relationship between pornography and sexual violence.
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NTV and SASVIC produced this report, which aims to improve understanding, awareness, and responses to intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) for practitioners working with people who use family violence. IPSV is a distinct tactic of family violence that often co-occurs with other forms of abuse. It is a high risk indicator of escalating family violence that signals an increased likelihood of severe injury or death for victim-survivors.
Other Research
New report: Government systems being weaponised to financially abuse single mothers and their children20th April 2026 | Read media article
This research by Swinburne University identifies “Fembot Debt” as an emerging form of financial abuse that is enabled through government systems. It shows how weaknesses in Australia’s tax, child support and Family Tax Benefit (FTB) systems can be exploited by persons using violence (usually former partners), transferring financial liability onto victim‑survivors.Read report and summary
Disconnected & Insecure: The intersection between experiences of long COVID and intimate partner violence | MGFVPC and Safe and Equal, 2024 | Read moreThis report seeks to put the interpersonal safety and support needs of individuals diagnosed with long COVID on the political agenda.
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The information provided on this Family Violence Sexual Violence Knowledge Hub is curated to be the most recent and relevant available. While the content is continually being developed and will be regularly updated to reflect the latest insights and best practices, these resources are not exhaustive. While we strive to maintain the accuracy and timeliness of the information, we encourage users to check back frequently for new and refreshed materials, and to contact the relevant peak body if you would like more information about family violence, sexual violence and/or working with children and families in this context.
