13 March

Coercive control was a factor in a majority of 12 homicides linked to domestic and family violence, which were examined in the  ACT’s first domestic and family violence review.

The review, released in February, found that perpetrators sometimes used coercive control in the absence of significant physical violence. The review also found nine common themes across the 12 deaths, revealing complex dynamics of domestic and family violence, with a specific focus on perpetrator behaviours.

“Many of these victims had limited contact with support services before they were killed," ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates said.

"We must continue to work with community so that everyone knows help is available when they feel unsafe, even where there hasn’t been a history of physical violence," she said.

Since 2021, the Commission’s family violence safety action program (FVSAP) has worked intensively to help government, justice and community agencies to identify, assess and respond to high-risk family violence matters.

Ms Yates said the use of common risk assessment and information-sharing frameworks by FVSAP and partner agencies will be critical to preventing future family violence deaths.

“I acknowledge the daily loss and trauma carried by the families and friends of these women, including the 22 children directly affected by these deaths,” she said.