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our Commitment to preventing and responding to Domestic and Family Violence

The Anglican Church Southern Queensland (ACSQ) is committed to addressing the injustice of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV)a within both the Anglican and broader communities. ACSQ has endorsed the Anglican Church of Australia’s Ten Commitments for Preventing and Responding to DFV and taken the Not Now, Not Ever. Together pledge at the 2024 Synod. Church leaders pledge to raise awareness, prevent violence, promote equity, and support those affected by DFV.

The Anglican Church of Southern Queensland recognises that Domestic and Family Violence disproportionately impacts vulnerable and marginalised groups, including women, First Nations peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disabilities, older adults, children, young people and LGBTIQA+ individuals. It also acknowledges the challenges faced by rural and remote communities in accessing support. ACSQ is dedicated to fostering safe and respectful environments that promote justice, peace, reconciliation, equality, dignity, and freedom from violence.What is Domestic and Family Violence?

Understanding domestic and family violence

Domestic and family violence involves abusive, threatening, or coercive behaviour used to control or dominate another person. Coercive control is a form of domestic and family violence that involves an ongoing and persistent pattern of behaviour intended to undermine a person’s independence, confidence, sense of safety, or ability to seek help. This behaviour may involve control, intimidation, or actions that confine someone in an invisible cage of fear, leaving them feeling powerless and anxious for their own or their loved ones' safety and wellbeing.

Forms of Abusive Behaviour

Domestic and family violence can take many forms, including:

• Physical or sexual abuse — such as hitting, pushing, strangulation, or unwanted sexual contact. This may also include forcing participation in unwanted practices.

• Isolation and social abuse — such as isolating someone from family and friends, restricting their work or social activities, controlling their appearance, sabotaging social outings, or making accusations of affairs.

• Emotional or psychological abuse — such as belittling, degrading comments, threats of suicide, or mind games that undermine confidence and self-worth.

• Economic abuse — such as limiting access to money, demanding unreasonable financial control, or forcing someone to hand over funds, assets, or take out loans.

• Threatening behaviour — such as using threats to force certain actions, including threats to harm children, pets, or others.

• Verbal abuse — such as insults, name-calling, lying, or dominating conversations.

• Stalking & Monitoring — such as excessive texts or calls, monitoring social media, driving past home or work, turning up unexpectedly, following someone in public, or vandalising property.

• Technology-facilitated abuse — such as tracking someone’s location through devices, monitoring financial or personal accounts, or sharing intimate images online.

• Spiritual abuse — Misusing scripture or religious beliefs to control, dominate, or harm; this may include demanding obedience through distorted teachings, preventing or forcing religious practices, using spiritual language to shame or manipulate, exploiting faith to silence victims, or isolating individuals within their faith community.

• Litigation abuse — Misusing legal processes to control, intimidate, or harm a victim, often through excessive filings, false claims, or prolonged court proceedings.

Additionally, encouraging or directing someone else to engage in abusive, controlling, or violent behaviour towards a current or former partner is also considered domestic violence.

While domestic and family violence may occur as a single incident, it is often part of an ongoing pattern of abuse that causes victims to live in fear of their partner or former partner.

DOMESTIC & FAMILY VIOLENCE WORKING GROUP

Established and affirmed by the ACSQ Synod in 2019, the ACSQ Domestic and Family Violence Working Group aims to:

• Raise awareness of domestic and family violence across the Diocese.

• Develop policies and procedures to ensure best practice in supporting those impacted by DFV.

• Provide accessible resources and information for those experiencing or supporting someone affected by DFV.

• Offer education and training to clergy, staff, parishioners, and volunteers to improve awareness and support capabilities.

• Act as a link between the ACSQ and the National Church DFV Working Group.

The Domestic and Family Violence Working Group includes members from across the Anglican community in Southern Queensland, representing:

• clergy

• parishes

• schools

• human services and broader support network

• young people.

DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE ADVISOR

The Anglican Church Southern Queensland has a Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Advisor who provides advice and support to guide employees, clergy, and managers on preventing and responding to domestic and family violence.

As part of the Office of Safe Ministry, the Domestic and Family Violence Advisor works collaboratively to build Domestic and Family Violence safeguarding, prevention, and response capacity through policy and procedure development, identification of relevant training, risk assessment, and incident management.

If you are an employee, clergy, or manager of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland, our Domestic and Family Violence Advisor, Kylie Walls, is available for consultation on DFV-related matters.

CONTACT THE acsq DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE ADVISOR OR WORKING GROUP