Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria have diverse languages and cultures.
The term Aboriginal is used in this strategy when referring to First Nations people from across Australia.
Our use of this term is not intended to deny the right of Aboriginal people to determine the way in which they are referred.
The Victorian Government defines family violence as the use of violence by a current or former intimate partner or family member.7 Family violence may be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, cultural or financial. Family is broadly defined and includes people who share a variety of family and family-like relationships.
Sexual violence is a form of violence in which any sexual act is attempted, or occurs, without consent. This includes both physical acts and non-physical acts (such as image-based sexual abuse). Victoria Police uses the term sexual offences to reflect our primary role in responding to sexual violence as a crime.
Child abuse may be physical, emotional, psychological or sexual, and can include grooming or neglect. Sexual violence and child abuse can be forms of family violence or can occur outside of family relationships.
Gender-based violence refers to violence that is used against someone because of their gender.8 While people of all genders can experience gender-based violence, the term is most often used to describe violence against women and girls. Victoria Police refers to this as gendered violence or gendered crime.
While people of any gender can be a perpetrator or victim survivor of family violence, sexual offences, child abuse and stalking, we know that these crimes are predominantly perpetrated by men against women and children.
We acknowledge the Victorian Government’s use of both the term victim survivor and person who has experienced violence. We use the term victim survivor in recognition of the strength and resilience shown by people who experience family violence, sexual offences and child abuse. In engaging with victim survivors, we know that the experience of these crimes does not define a victim survivor.
We note the Victorian Government’s use of the terms perpetrator and person who uses violence interchangeably. Victoria Police primarily describes people who have committed family violence, sexual offences or child abuse as perpetrators. In family violence cases, the term predominant aggressor refers to the person who, through actions within the relationship, is exerting the greatest amount of harm and control over their partner or family member.9
We acknowledge that the terms victim survivor and perpetrator will not encompass how some people may choose to identify themselves or others.
7 Strong Foundations: Building on Victoria’s work to end family violence, DFFH, 2023, Melbourne, Australia
8 Strong Foundations: Building on Victoria’s work to end family violence, DFFH, 2023, Melbourne, Australia
9 Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence, 4th Edition, Version 2, 2023, Victoria Police, Melbourne Australia
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