Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Family violence Australia'

This thesis is based on a feminist ethnography. designed to explore how we as members of informal networks (family, social,,student/work and neighbourhood networks) can respond usefully where there is domestic violence. Here, domestic violence refers to violence against women by their intimate partners and I have filtered the various discourses which seek to explain domestic violence through the lens of a feminist ecological model. The inquiry process has been informed by a postmodem feminism. Non-foundationalist ideas about knowledge have influenced the gathering, interpretatation and representation of the research data. The ideas which emanate from the stady have been informed by the view that language, embodied and as text, plays a pivotal role in shaping how we live in the world and how we socially construct our world through interactions with others. The ways in which particular discourses govern what it is possible for us to say and do around domestic violence have been a focus for the study.

Alcohol misuse is considered the most significant cause of violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. All members of the Aboriginal community feel the impact of heavy alcohol consumption and related violence. Initiatives that attempt to reduce alcohol consumption as a strategy to decrease crisis levels of violence have had limited success. This thesis examines the extent and patterns of Aboriginal alcohol consumption and explores the relationship between alcohol misuse and violence, using secondary statistical and exploratory literature. It will be contended that: the link between alcohol misuse and violence is not a simple cause and effect relationship; and Aboriginal family and community violence are symptoms of underlying social and psychological trauma. This thesis presents qualitative researched case studies of Aboriginal alcohol treatment organisations, and Aboriginal initiatives that address the issues underlying violence. It is argued that interventions focusing on alcohol alone will not reduce family violence and community dysfunction. A "grassroots," Aboriginal community based response is presented as an alternative to reactive and short-term interventions.

This study examines elder abuse in an Australian context and comprises two parts: agencies' experiences with elder abuse; and seniors and their relationships. The first part sought baseline data on elder abuse as recorded by a range of agencies in New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA). A mailed questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 400 agencies per State, seeking information for the 1994 calendar year regarding abused elders 65 years of age or older, and resulted in an overall return rate of 57.62%. Data was analysed using SPSS for Windows. The second part of the study was qualitative, exploratory and phenomenological in nature. The objectives were: to increase the knowledge and understanding of elder abuse within an Australian context by examining the experiences and feelings of care givers and care recipients in the transition from independence to dependence for one partner; to identify factors contributing to the abuse of elderly persons in private accommodation; to determine the relevance of a disability-related dependency to the likely occurrence of elder abuse; and to explore the applicability of a range of theories, in particular social exchange theory and the situational model, to caring situations. A purposive, nonrandom sample of nine cases was drawn totalling 12 persons who were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Four general research questions examined the characteristics of the participants prior to the onset of caring; explored the impact of the change from the pre-caring stage to the caring stage on the respondents; assessed caring demands on the care giver; and sought to determine the impact of continuous care provision on the care giver/care recipient relationship. Seven ancillary research questions addressed more specific aspects of the care giver/care recipient relationship. Qualitative data analysis utilised NUD.IST. The major findings from part 1 of the study revealed 92 (44%) agencies in NSW and 66 (26.2%) in WA had seen cases of elder abuse in 1994. In both States, female elder abuse victims as care recipients, were represented three times more often over a greater range of victims per agency than male counterparts. Psychological, physical, material/financial and sexual forms of abuse, plus neglect, were represented in both States' findings. Psychological abuse was most frequent in NSW, and in WA, neglect. Sexual abuse was reported with least frequency in both States. In each State, victims were represented in a ratio of approximately 1:6 (care giver to care recipients). For care givers, the most common forms of abuse received were physical, psychological and material/financial. No reliable Australian data exists on the incidence and prevalence of elder abuse. These research findings indicated its presence and found similarities with findings in the USA, Canada and the UK for perpetrators and abuse types. Perpetrators of elder abuse included: spouses; sons; sons-in-law; de facto partners; daughters; and daughters-in-law. Spouses were cited most often as perpetrators in both States followed by sons and daughters in NSW and daughters-in-law and sons in WA. Direct agency services for victims were found wanting. Where available, they provided information; counselling; mediation; and referral. Mandatory reporting of elder abuse was supported in both NSW ( 4 7 .1 % ) and WA (44.8%). One-third of the agencies in both States were undecided on the issue and the remainder were opposed. However, many agencies ignored the question, leaving the results inconclusive. The major findings from part 2 of the study revealed eight of nine care givers interviewed to have been in long-term marriages and of having satisfying relationships prior to the onset of the partner's disability. Trauma, loss and grief experiences prior to their partner's disability, for some, exacerbated the demands of caring in later years. The onset of the disability-related dependency whether sudden, or gradual, determined how the care giver coped initially. Regardless of the type of disability, common feelings expressed by care givers included: social isolation; change or loss in communication; a sense of coping alone; lack of external supports; feeling trapped; a loss of intimacy with the partner; stress, both structural and situational; having health problems related to carer stress; physical and mental exhaustion; anger; disappointment; frustration; general loss and grief; resentment; sadness; anxiety; and the monotony of the caring role. Environmental factors were rarely mentioned as being stressful. There appeared to be a connection between care giver stress and elder abuse in eight of the nine cases studied, notably psychological abuse. Physical abuse was indirect, and only one possible instance of neglect was noted. Sexual and material/financial abuse were not represented in the sample of case studies. Theories associated with elder abuse explored in the study included: stress theory; crisis theory; learned violence; issues of dependency; mental impairment; loss and grief; societal ageism and sexism. The findings lend only partial support to the situational model as a possible explanation for elder abuse. This study identified as situational factors: physical dependency; poor health; impaired mental status; difficult personalities in the care recipients; and corresponding care giver health problems. Only one structural factor was identified, namely social isolation. The concepts associated with social exchange theory - including power advantage/disadvantage, positive sentiments, rewards and punishments, instrumental services and personal resources - were evident across the nine cases. However, without the application of additional variables, it could not be concluded that social exchange theory, on its own, adequately explained elder abuse. No one theory emerged as offering a satisfactory explanation for the causes of elder abuse, suggesting that its complex and diverse nature defies a single causal theory.

Using the International Violence Against Women Survey (IVAWS), this paper identifies factors contributing to women’s individual risk of being victimized by their current intimate partner. Additionally, this analysis examines the overlap of physical and sexual violence within intimate relationships. Past research into IPV has identified a numerous predictor variables. Adapting nine such variables (controlling behaviours, male heavy drinking, female only income, female past marriage, female past IPV, respondents’ age, relationship duration, relationship status and violence outside the home) to the IVAWS dataset, a framework identifying risk patterns for physical and sexual violence was developed. The results identify a number of variables that performed as expected and increased a women’s risk of being a victim of IPV; however, some variables decreased women’s risk and therefore acted as protective factors. These findings suggest that IPV at the country level is more complex and requires additional research to fully explain the variation observed.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2005.
Title from title screen (viewed 21 May 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Discipline of Government and International Relations, Faculty of Arts. Degree awarded 2005; thesis submitted 2004. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Domestic Violence (DV) is prevalent within Australian society with one in four women experiencing some form ofDV (ABS 2017) in their life. The Australian homicide rate is about 250 deaths per year, of which 52% are domestic related (Virueda & Payne 2010). Domestic homicides include Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH), where the victim and offender shared, or formerly shared an intimate relationship (for example married, defacto and ex partners; Bryant & Cussen 2015). This study analysed the factors of West Australian (WA) IPHs from 2012-2017 inclusive. The aim was to identify aetiologies of IPH offending across ethnicity and gender to understand causes and implications ofIPH in WA. This research conducted two studies to achieve this: Study 1 constituted a systematic review of IPH research. The rationale for Study 1 was to situate the findings of Study 2 within the c9ntext of WA, national and international IPH research. Study 2 used a multiple case study design, using content analysis to examine WA Police Force IPH investigation case files and associated databases. The study examined 59 IPHs for the period 2012-2017 inclusive (N=59). Study 1 and Study 2 both found the majority of IPHs involve a male offender and female victim. Male IPH offenders are generally found to have criminal records, including records of prior violence and histories of intimate partner violence (IPV) with the IPH victim. Motives of the male IPH offender commonly revolve around issues of jealousy and sexual proprietariness. Both studies indicate female IPH offenders generally commit IPH as a means to escape ongoing IPV. Study 2 found this trait salient amongst Aboriginal female offenders. However, both studies found evidence to suggest female IPH offenders may also be IPV offenders, subject to the same issues of jealousy and sexual proprietariness observed in male IPH offenders. Both studies identified alcohol use as a key factor of IPH, with significant findings relating to alcohol use by offenders and victims at the time of IPH. Both studies found a relationship between geographical location and IPH, with rurality representing a greater risk ofIPH through a lack ofDV services, remoteness of location and associated social and cultural issues. Both studies identified attempts to leave, or recent separation from violent relationship, represent high risk of IPH. Informal cohabitating relationships present as the relationships with the greatest risk of IPH, marriage appears to have protective attributes, whilst divorced relationships represent the lowest risk of IPH. The findings of Study 2 also suggested the aetiology of the IPH offender varies across gender and cultures. Aboriginal people are over-represented as IPH offenders and victims, and are influenced by cultural violence, alcohol misuse, rurality and mental health issues. The major implication derived is that as offender aetiologies differ across offender gender and culture, DV services need to be tailored according to gender and culture to reduce IPV and IPH. A second major implication of the study is that health factors such as mental health issues and alcohol and drug use are significant factors of IPH.

"Although awareness of the pervasiveness and significance of partner abuse has been growing, little data exist on matching type of abusers with specific interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate one example of the empirically based typologies of partner abuse that could lead to improved interventions for abusers."
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)

"Although awareness of the pervasiveness and significance of partner abuse has been growing, little data exist on matching type of abusers with specific interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate one example of the empirically based typologies of partner abuse that could lead to improved interventions for abusers."
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)

Thesis (Ph.D.) - James Cook University, 2004.
Thesis submitted by Sally Marie Babidge, BA (Hons) UWA June 2004, for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Anthropology, Archaeology and Sociology, James Cook University. Bibliography: leaves 283-303.

Divorce is a common experience for many children - around half of Australian divorces annually involve children under 18 years. Research indicates these children are worse off on several measures of well-being than children from intact families. Evidence suggests children can benefit from contact with the non-resident parent (NRP), usually the father, although not if he exhibits anti-social behaviours including violence and substance abuse. Domestic violence (DV) is a pervasive, endemic, significant social and public health issue that can have a range of physical, emotional, social, legal, economic and political ramifications. The full extent of the problem is not understood due to considerable underreporting; however, studies reveal 25-34% of women who have ever had an intimate partner have experienced at least one form of violence in their lifetime. A popular belief is that women should leave the violent/abusive partner, yet separation creates significant risk for women and children - more than 30% of women are murdered by their intimate partner at this time. These women are then required to arrange residence and contact agreements, frequently resorting to litigation. This dissertation examined three elements of the family law process – court orders; the effects of contact with violent/abusive fathers on children subjected to orders; and finally, for young adults who have ‘aged out’ of the orders, their opinions about spending time with their NRP, particularly where violence/abuse was present. Study one explored the application of the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility (ESPR) in cases with DV and apprehended violence orders (AVOs). Published judgments from the Australian Federal Magistrates Court for 2010-2012 were examined. Of 105 cases containing the term ‘domestic violence’, 68 had evidence of AVOs, 15 of these had an order for ESPR. Judgments fell into two groups: group one were “one off incidents”, group two recognised “severe violence”. The results indicated that some judges are unwilling to remove decision making responsibility from parents even when they acknowledge serious DV. Study two examined the effects of court ordered contact for children of violent/abusive fathers. The sample comprised eight mothers whose children were ordered to spend time with fathers who were violent/abusive to the mother during their relationship. Qualitative interviews investigated mothers’ experiences of ex-partners’ behaviour at handovers, their parenting, and children’s behaviours before and after visits. Respondents were also asked about the attitude of legal practitioners, including judges who were often perceived as tending to minimise fathers’ behaviour or being towards mothers for wanting to protect their children. The results highlighted the potential links between problematic child behaviour and contact with their violent and/or abusive fathers. Study three used a survey to assess the opinions of young adults (N = 210, 18-25 years) about contact with their NRP, usually the father. Most participants experienced maternal primary care; almost all had contact with their father post-separation, although the type of contact varied. The perception of contact as found to be related to the pre-separation relationship with the father. Good relationships predicted positive contact, whereas the reverse held for negative relationships.
Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2018

The effects of domestic violence on childhood are significantly under investigated in the literature, the experiences of women dominate the field. The underpinning argument of this thesis is that children who witness domestic violence are silent victims. I have used feminist and sociological theories to strengthen the thesis and frame the gendered and social contexts of domestic violence, providing context for how the social phenomena has been historically understood. I have used lived experience to explore the effects of witnessing domestic violence as a child, in an Australian context. The highlights and challenges of investigating the self within the context of a sensitive topic are discussed. Autoethnographic methods have been harnessed to represent an experiential narrative of witnessing domestic violence, connected to the context of the broader social issue. Field texts were produced during the research process, in the form of diarised entries and stream of consciousness writing and were subsequently utilised for analysis. Genealogical data sets comprised of family artefacts such as photos and life documents were also used as primary data sets. The disordered nature of writing the self is thoroughly investigated and demonstrated in the excerpts of diarised entries included in the data section. The thesis concludes with the proposal that the production of familial generational violence and victimisation is impacted by structural factors such as class position, gendered behavioural patterns, and the constructs of the nuclear family. Adulthood is negatively affected by a childhood disrupted by experiential accounts of domestic violence, exposure to violence and victimisation in the home significantly impacts life outcomes.

The centrepoint of this thesis is an action research project, the Maternal Alienation Project (MAP), implemented during 2002 and 2003 in Adelaide, South Australia. Resourced by two government-funded community health services, it was established to improve organisations’ (health, welfare and legal) and systems’ responses to the newly termed ‘maternal alienation’. MAP was situated within a tradition of feminist participatory and action research. It was designed to work on three levels: practice, systems and policy-making, and research. The outcomes, processes and events of MAP at the different levels of its operation are examined in the thesis through the employment of a gendered analysis drawn mainly from materialist feminism and standpoint theories. Post-project interviews and focus groups provided further data to the fieldnotes written throughout MAP, and the project’s formal and informal documents. A recent example of a contested gendered concept, “maternal alienation” was first identified and named in 1999 as a component of gender violence (Morris 1999). It forms part of a spectrum of violence perpetrated in households, and had been identified within domestic violence and child sexual abuse. It is a term for the range of tactics used by mainly male perpetrators, predominantly the mothers’ intimate partners and the children’s fathers or step-fathers, to deliberately undermine the relationship between mothers and their children. The mother-blaming discourses and degrading constructions of mothers conveyed to children and those in the family’s orbit are strongly related to wider socio-cultural constructions of women and mothers. The thesis examines theories of gender, gendered organisations and gender violence. It develops the concept of an abusive household gender regime, characterised by perpetrators’ imposition of a coercive and abusive regime on household members, and particular patternings of gendered relations. Comparisons are made between household and organisational gender regimes, which are also viewed in relation to the local gender order at the time of MAP. It was found that services that lack an analysis of gender are likely to re-inscribe the dynamics of maternal alienation in their responses to families. Language was found to play a significant part in addressing maternal alienation, particularly in developing congruence between language and women’s and children’s “lived” experiences. The principles that were developed were founded on supporting mothers and rebuilding their relationships with children, and making visible the tactics employed by perpetrators, thereby reducing their power to coerce and increasing their accountability. The concept of maternal alienation and MAP itself were attacked by a coalition of men’s rights and Christian Right lobbyists. This compromised the operations of MAP, and of its key supporters, managers of feminist and gender-aware organisations. In many ways these attacks, played out at a macro level, reflected the techniques and dynamics of maternal alienation at a micro level. This thesis raises questions about the strategies that feminist organisations need to develop to more effectively pursue feminist agendas, and to re-invigorate a women’s movement.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2008