Language used in this report

We use the term victim survivor to refer to adults, children and young people who have experienced family violence. We acknowledge that some people and cultures also prefer to use the term people who experience violence.

The word family has many meanings. This report uses the definition from the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (the Act). This acknowledges the variety of relationships and structures that can make up a family unit. It encompasses the different ways family violence can be experienced. This includes through family-like or carer relationships (in non-institutional paid carer environments).

The term family violence reflects the language in the Act. It includes the wider understanding of the term across all communities. For example, Dhelk Dja: safe our way – strong culture, strong peoples, strong families¹ provides a definition of family violence. This definition includes physical, emotional, sexual, social, spiritual, cultural, psychological and economic abuses. These abuses occur within families, intimate relationships, extended families, kinship networks and communities. Family violence extends to one-on-one fighting and abuse of Indigenous community professionals. It includes self-harm, injury and suicide.

We use the term Aboriginal to refer to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The term perpetrator describes adults who choose to use family violence. We acknowledge that some Aboriginal people and communities prefer the term person who uses violence. The perpetrator is also the predominant aggressor in situations of misidentification.

Young people who use family violence need a different response to adults who use family violence. This is due to their age, developmental stage, and the possibility they are also victim survivors of family violence. We do not use the term perpetrator for these young people. Some programs use the term adolescents who use family violence in the home.