The Legal Light Justin Stack Recognise the early signs of coercive control and domestic violence New university research into domestic violence has found it nearly always starts with forms of psychological abuse and coercive control, such as restricting access to money, family and friends. The University of Melbourne study asked 815 Australian women who were victims of intimate partner violence the order in which abusive behaviours started in their relationship. Nearly all the women reported the abusive behaviour escalated over the course of their relationship, starting with efforts to control the woman by limiting access to communications or contact with health professionals, controlling what she wore or where she could go and blocking her from socialising with family, friends, or work colleagues. The women reported efforts to isolate them emerged before they moved in together or got married. Verbal abuse escalated from insults to belittling, ridicule and humiliation in front of others. Threats to hurt the woman grew, followed by threats the man would hurt himself or the woman's family if she didn't obey. Stalking and obsession with who she was meeting grew, followed by accusations of infidelity and breaking trust. When the woman tried to reason with her partner, he would say she was imagining things, that it was all in her head and she was delusional. Most women told researchers physical abuse first emerged after they moved in together or got married. It started with being slapped or shoved. It escalated into beatings and threats with knives or guns. In many instances the attacks became sexual as physical violence worsened. Family and criminal lawyer Ashleigh Flanagan at Stacks Law Firm says it is vitally important for women to recognise these early signs of domestic violence. Another study found coercive control was a precursor to 97 per cent of intimate partner homicides between 2000 and 2018. "Coercive control is now a crime in NSW, punishable with a maximum penalty of seven years in jail. It encompasses repeated patterns of abusive behaviour that coerces or controls, aiming to hurt, frighten or isolate a person with the intent of controlling them," Ms Flanagan said. "The study reveals that nearly all domestic violence follows the same pattern of psychological abuse, building up to physical and sexual abuse. Women should be alert to these early signs of coercive control and seek help on what to do before it gets worse. "If you are caught in this type of relationship, it would be wise to seek legal advice to know what your rights are and how your situation could be covered by the new coercive control laws. The law only applies to abusive behaviour in intimate partner relationships that happened after 1 July 2024, when the law was enacted." STACKS LAW FIRM Tim Stack Commercial Lawyer 02 6592 6592 taree.stacklaw.com.au Partners in life The Legal Light Justin Stack Recognise the early signs of coercive control and domestic violence New university research into domestic violence has found it nearly always starts with forms of psychological abuse and coercive control , such as restricting access to money , family and friends . The University of Melbourne study asked 815 Australian women who were victims of intimate partner violence the order in which abusive behaviours started in their relationship . Nearly all the women reported the abusive behaviour escalated over the course of their relationship , starting with efforts to control the woman by limiting access to communications or contact with health professionals , controlling what she wore or where she could go and blocking her from socialising with family , friends , or work colleagues . The women reported efforts to isolate them emerged before they moved in together or got married . Verbal abuse escalated from insults to belittling , ridicule and humiliation in front of others . Threats to hurt the woman grew , followed by threats the man would hurt himself or the woman's family if she didn't obey . Stalking and obsession with who she was meeting grew , followed by accusations of infidelity and breaking trust . When the woman tried to reason with her partner , he would say she was imagining things , that it was all in her head and she was delusional . Most women told researchers physical abuse first emerged after they moved in together or got married . It started with being slapped or shoved . It escalated into beatings and threats with knives or guns . In many instances the attacks became sexual as physical violence worsened . Family and criminal lawyer Ashleigh Flanagan at Stacks Law Firm says it is vitally important for women to recognise these early signs of domestic violence . Another study found coercive control was a precursor to 97 per cent of intimate partner homicides between 2000 and 2018 . " Coercive control is now a crime in NSW , punishable with a maximum penalty of seven years in jail . It encompasses repeated patterns of abusive behaviour that coerces or controls , aiming to hurt , frighten or isolate a person with the intent of controlling them , " Ms Flanagan said . " The study reveals that nearly all domestic violence follows the same pattern of psychological abuse , building up to physical and sexual abuse . Women should be alert to these early signs of coercive control and seek help on what to do before it gets worse . " If you are caught in this type of relationship , it would be wise to seek legal advice to know what your rights are and how your situation could be covered by the new coercive control laws . The law only applies to abusive behaviour in intimate partner relationships that happened after 1 July 2024 , when the law was enacted . " STACKS LAW FIRM Tim Stack Commercial Lawyer 02 6592 6592 taree.stacklaw.com.au Partners in life