Arabic version: كيفية دعم صديق يواجه العنف الأسري

According to ABC News, domestic, family and sexual violence is more common among young people than some may assume. The Australian Child Mistreatment Study, published in 2021, found that 48 per cent of surveyed 16 to 24-year-olds had experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse from a partner, compared with 40 per cent of people aged 45 and older.

The issue was highlighted by the death of Molly Ticehurst, who was stabbed to death by former partner Daniel Billings in April 2024. Billings was sentenced earlier this month to 28 years in jail, with a non-parole period of 20 years. Her friend Gaby Shepherd said she had not thought such an outcome could happen to someone their age and said she felt guilt about not intervening after recognising Molly was in an abusive relationship.

Pia Birac, deputy CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, said a first step for friends is to believe the person, listen without judgement and reassure them that abuse is not their fault. Karen Bevan of Full Stop Australia said young people’s relationships should be taken seriously. She advised approaching conversations with compassion rather than firm views about what a person should do, asking how they feel and gently checking in when patterns of isolation or missed social events become apparent.

Both experts stressed the importance of respecting the person’s autonomy. Ms Birac said friends should follow their lead and support decisions that feel safe and achievable, while Ms Bevan warned that taking control can damage trust. Friends can offer practical help, including connecting someone with a specialist service, a trusted adult or reputable online information. People who are worried about a friend, sibling or parent can also contact support services themselves for advice. If someone is in immediate danger, people should call Triple Zero without hesitation.