Family violence in Gippsland is critically shaped by intersecting cultural, social and political factors. Gippsland men have historically been culturally and socially defined by their employment on farms, fisheries, paper mills and power stations, while Gippsland women have been defined by their role as care-giver of their family members. Family violence occurs when traditional gender roles become entrenched in communities, and because of imbalances of power within relationships, where one party feels entitled to use power and control to coerce the other members of the family. Because of the social and cultural factors which Gippsland has been founded on, Gippsland has some of the highest rates of family violence in the state.

Family violence affects all communities within Gippsland and isn’t restricted to lower income groups. It is just as prevalent in affluent areas and almost all families will be affected or know someone who is affected. We can all take steps to address family violence in our communities by calling out inappropriate behaviour’s, knowing how to offer assistance and by working to create gender equal communities.