Senior woman sitting

How do we stop coercive control and elder abuse?

Published: 10 February 2022
  • national
  • 10 February 2022
  • ABC

Should we criminalise coercive control - an insidious form of domestic violence, used to control, humiliate, and intimidate another person?

Women, and older Australians, are often the targets of coercive and controlling behaviour, but it is difficult to prevent and police.

Some argue this is because existing laws are inadequate.

Would a criminal offence, outlawing coercive control, make a difference?

Zoom webinar recorded on November 30th, 2021. Organised by Caxton Legal Centre , in conjunction with the law schools of University of Qld, QUT, and Griffith University

Speakers:

  • Thelma Schwartz – Principal Legal Officer, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service.

  • Dr Heather Nancarrow – former CEO, ANROWS, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety; Adjunct Professor of Practice at Monash University; Adjunct Research Fellow at the Griffith Criminology Institute

  • Helen Wallace – Social Work Practice director, Caxton Legal Centre; board