Factors, Conceptual Frameworks, And Practical Responses To Family Violence In Australia: An Essay.

Prevalence of Family Violence in Australia

The main aim of this paper is to reflect on the various factors of family violence. In the beginning, the paper will talk about prevalence of family violence in Australia. Post that, the paper will talk about the relevant conceptual frameworks for family violence. Also, the ability to identify impacts of family violence will be reflected upon on this paper. In the end, the paper will suggest practical responses in dealing with family violence issues. Violence could be identified as one of the most significant social and public health problems throughout the world. Studies have also stated that around 16% of women had already reported experiencing physical forms of domestic violence. Apart from that, it has also been identified that 25% sexual form, 52% psychological, and 56% reported any form of domestic violence (Ellsberg et al., 2015). The primary reason behind this significant interest in understanding the chief causes of violence is that it helps in the process of developing effective intervention as well as prevention programs. Based on this observation, the importance of understanding the relevant factors related to domestic violence could be realized.

Based on the online and the class learnings, I have realized that understanding the factors related to family violence could be gained only if the exact condition of the country in relevance to family violence gets highlighted. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Personal Safety Survey, it has already been identified that around 2.2 million Australians have already been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence from a partner. Adding to that, it has also been observed that around 3.6 million Australians have experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the form of domestic violence (Boxall, Morgan & Brown, 2020). The numbers are quite high and major attention needs to be given in this area by the government of the country. To back this claim, there are certain statistics which could be presented. Based on the data presented by OECD, among all the G20 nations, Australia tends to rank eight for rates of domestic violence against women (Cordier et al., 2021). I have also come up with another observation that, in Australia, domestic and family violence is distressingly common. It could easily be identified as one of the chief drivers of homelessness among children, women, and men.

On the brighter side of the things, I have realized that over the last 20 years family or domestic violence has significantly decreased. To be precise, the proportion of Australians who have report that they have went through violence in the past year has declined from 8.3% in the year 2005 to that of the 5.4% in the year 2016 (Zalewski, 2021). While going through the online and offline documents, I have realized that there are certain factors which tend to amplify domestic violence in Australia. The factors that significantly amplify domestic violence are perpetrator’s drug and alcohol use, victim’s experience of child abuse and also at the same time factors such as separation and pregnancy (Devaney, 2015). Apart from these factors, there are other factors which adds up to the cause behind domestic violence and the factors are very much relevant in the present-day world. It has already been identified that personal stress, financial stress, and also at the same time the lack of social support are strong correlates of violence against women. Based on all the data related to domestic violence, it has already been identified that even if there has been a significant decrease in Australia of domestic violence cases, the problem is still brooding in every corner of the country.

Relevant Conceptual Frameworks for Family Violence

Based on the readings, I have realized that conceptual frameworks are fundamentally the “road maps” that are significantly premeditated to link the way in which individuals think about a problem and it talks about the way in which individuals tend to address that problem and most importantly the way in which the individuals hope to accomplish through their actions. It has also enabled me with the understanding that, with proper analysis of domestic violence work in relevance to the survivors and especially women within a conceptual framework enables the programs to significantly communicate and define what they do and why they do it. While going through the course materials, and understanding the conceptual framework, it has helped me to realize that it helps in examining one’s own accountability (McGirr & Sullivan, 2017).

To be more specific, in relevance to the conceptual frameworks that has been identified in relevance to the domestic violence in Australia. The relevant Conceptual Framework that could be identified in relevance to the domestic violence is Social and Emotional Well-Being Promotion Framework which gets abbreviated as the Well-Being Framework. It could also be identified as the ideal structure which could be implemented in order to significantly describe the practices and the goals of domestic violence programs (McGirr & Sullivan, 2017). There are two aspects of this framework and both these are significantly relevant in curbing the issues related to domestic violence. The very first aspect that could be identified in relevance to the framework is that it accurately represents domestic violence program’s goal of helping survivors as they must thrive. The second aspect of this framework is that it helps in recognizing the importance of the community and also at the same time the societal context in influencing the social and the emotional well-being of the individuals. There are three specific factors in relevance to the conceptual framework of domestic violence and both the factors are the risk factors and the protective factors.

The third and the most important factor is promotive factor which are conditions or the variables and also at the same time it contributes to the greater sense of overall well-being (Sullivan, 2012). There are certain intrapersonal predictors of well-being, which are significantly located within an individual. Based on the readings, I have also realized that there are other predictors of well-being such as self-efficacy, hope, along with social connectedness and significantly positive relationship with others. Based on the above discussion, I could conclude that is Social and Emotional Well-Being Promotion Framework should be implemented in the Australian scenes of domestic violence so that relevant outcome could be obtained from the implementation.

It is a fact that the signs of domestic violence or domestic abuse are not always as obvious as one might think. The primary reason behind the same is that because domestic abuse is about controlling and individuals mind and emotion as much as hurting their body. There are certain signs that enables us to understand that the individual who we know is being abused. Signs such as excuses for injuries, constantly checking in with their partner, skipping out on work, personality changes like low self-esteem and most importantly wearing clothes that does not Fit the season in order to hide the bruises.

Impacts of Family Violence

The fact that also needs to be stated that signs are not so different for men. Studies have stated that in order to make up for differences in strength, partners who are abusive tend to attack men in their sleep by surprise. Based on the study, I have also significantly realized domestic violence is a complete procedure and it slowly creeps in step by step. Now, it gets important to mention that domestic violence also tend to affect the community. The adult victims tend to suffer from a host of long-term health issues such as stress disorders, chronic pain, arthritis, and heart diseases (Boxall, 2018). These are the factors that increases healthcare cost for everyone. Studies have stated that the effects of domestic violence got across a significant range of problems. Based on this claim another evidence has popped out which states that the annual cost in Australia in relevance to healthcare for domestic violence exceeds 14 million dollars.

There are multiple reasons to raise significant awareness about domestic violence which I have understood based on the study. I have seen that it could be a perfect opportunity to highlight the issues to the forefront. Adding to that it helps in celebrating the survivors, advocate for change and most importantly mourn those who have tragically lost their lives to domestic violence. Based on this observation it could be concluded that, domestic violence as a notion is a deep-rooted problem that has been affecting not only Australia but all the countries around the world. It has been affecting each and every family member, colleagues, friends and other relevant members of our society.

Better practices need to be identified in dealing with family violence issues. The very first practice that needs to be implemented is building a culture of awareness internally and also externally. The common individuals need to be educated and trained about the different factors of domestic violence so that they could stand against the same. Post that, Acknowledging and also at the same time addressing the various to access will help in curbing out domestic violence at least by some extent. Most importantly, the practice that will help not only the victim survivors but also at the same time the probable victims from standing against the notion of domestic violence. Therefore, safety should be prioritized for the victim survivors and relevant steps should be taken to maintain their privacy at all cost.

It has been identified that there are lot of countries which do not have functional legal systems that could deal effectively with violence and abuse at community level. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the communities under such circumstances to set up systems that will hold the perpetrators of violence to account. Based on this they will have to face the consequences. This enables me with the understanding that being accountable and getting enlightened about the fact that there are serious consequences could be identified as one of the most important ways of reducing abuse. Therefore, these are some of the relevant practices which could be implemented in order to change some of the underlying attitudes and believes that tend to drive domestic abuse (Jones et al., 2017). However, under circumstances, it could be seen that these implementations are significantly expensive and takes a lot of time to be considered as a realistic option. Lastly, it is important to debunk the myths regarding domestic violence. It has been identified that lot of individuals tend to have attitudes and conceptions related to domestic abuse that are not at all correct. Debunking such meets will enlighten the individuals and therefore will help in building a better community Therefore these are some of the relevant practises which could be implemented in order to change some of the underlying attitudes and believes that tend to drive domestic abuse. However, under circumstances, it could be seen that these implementations are significantly expensive and takes a lot of time to be considered as a realistic option. Lastly, it is important to debunk the myths regarding domestic violence. It has been identified that lot of individuals tend to have attitudes and conceptions related to domestic abuse that are not at all correct. Debunking such meets will enlighten the individuals and therefore will help in building a better community

Conclusion

On a concluding note, I would like to state that this course has significantly helped me with all the relevant understanding of the factors related to domestic violence in Australia. Apart from that, this has also helped me to understand that implementation of Social and Emotional Well-Being Promotion Framework will significantly identify and uproot the reasons that results into domestic violence. Therefore, the importance of the notion could be realized and all the claims that I have presented in this paper are completely based on the information that I have gathered from the reliable sources. Also, this will help the readers to get a better understanding of the concept and relevant ideas related the concept and for further studies.

 References

Boxall, H. (2018). Understanding domestic violence incidents using crime script analysis. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, (558), 1-21.

Boxall, H., Morgan, A., & Brown, R. (2020). The prevalence of domestic violence among women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Australasian Policing, 12(3), 38-46.https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.435862482298266

Cordier, R., Chung, D., Wilkes-Gillan, S., & Speyer, R. (2021). The effectiveness of protection orders in reducing recidivism in domestic violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(4), 804-828. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838019882361

Devaney, J. (2015). Research Review: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children. Irish probation journal, 12.https://www.probation.ie/website/probationservice/websitepublishingdec09.nsf/Content/Irish+Probation+Journal+2015+Years

Ellsberg, M., Arango, D. J., Morton, M., Gennari, F., Kiplesund, S., Contreras, M., & Watts, C. (2015). Prevention of violence against women and girls: what does the evidence say?. The Lancet, 385(9977), 1555-1566. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61703-7

Jones, A., Jemmott, E. T., Da Breo, H., Buckmire, T., Tannis, D., Rose, L., ... & Moller, C. (2017). Twenty-one lessons: preventing domestic violence in the Caribbean.

McGirr, S. A., & Sullivan, C. M. (2017). Critical consciousness raising as an element of empowering practice with survivors of domestic violence. Journal of Social Service Research, 43(2), 156-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2016.1212777

Sullivan, C. M. (2012). Examining the work of domestic violence programs within a “social and emotional well-being promotion” conceptual framework. Harrisburg, PA: National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Retrieved February, 23, 2014.

Zalewski, T. (2021). Violence and the Personal Safety Survey Australia. The Encyclopedia of Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice, 1, 158-163. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119111931.ch29