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Things aren't always happy at my house

In some homes there is violence. One parent may be hurting the other.

Sometimes there is yelling, shouting and name-calling.

Sometimes there is pushing, hitting and kicking.

This is called Domestic Violence.

When this happens kids can feel really scared and don't know what to do.

If there is domestic violence in your home then here are some things that may be helpful to you.

It's not your fault

When domestic violence occurs, it is not your fault, even if you are blamed or you blame yourself.

There is no excuse for domestic violence and only the person who is violent can stop it.

It's not okay to hurt anybody

It is okay to feel angry at times but it is never okay to hurt somebody.

This includes yelling, name-calling, putting people down, hitting, pushing, and kicking.

Nobody deserves to be hit!

Staying safe

You can't make your Dad stop hitting your Mum or stop Mum from hitting your Dad.

You might get hurt too.

But there are some things you can do to protect yourself:

Go to your room and do something you like: read, play, or draw

Go to a friend or neighbour's house

Call the Police for help

Talk to someone you trust

Keeping secrets about domestic violence could make you feel sad.

You don’t have to keep these kinds of secrets.

It is okay to tell an adult that you trust how you really feel about what goes on in your house.

You could talk to:

Your teacher

School counsellor

A rabbi or minister

Baby-sitter

Your best friend's mum

Kids Help-Line (Australia Free Call 1800 55 1800)

In an emergency: Police 'phone 000

Don't give up asking for help.

What is happening to me?

It is normal to feel scared, sad, angry, upset, and confused when there is domestic violence in your home.

It is also normal to have trouble concentrating at school, to have nightmares, tummy aches, and headaches.

You are not alone

Domestic violence happens in all kinds of families.

There are lots of kids who are feeling the same way that you are feeling.

What else can I do?

When you feel upset, why not do something that makes you happy:

Play sport

Go for a walk or run

Play on your computer

Play with your pets

Pray to your God

Go to the park

Write down what you like about yourself

Play with your friends

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Resources on this website have been provided by Lionel Hartley, PhD as a free community service. Information has been gleaned from a variety of sources and may be copied provided this website is cited as the source.

Resources:

Free Seminar Domestic Violence

 Domestic Violence Forum Two fora to choose from.

Hartley's Online Resource Centre supports the Amber Alert Programme. The US National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children suggests three criteria that should be met before an Alert is activated. 1. law enforcement confirms a child has been abducted; 2. law enforcement believes the circumstances surrounding the abduction indicate that the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death; and 3. there is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect's vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help. If these criteria are met, alert information must be put together for public distribution. This information can include descriptions and pictures of the missing child, the suspected abductor, a suspected vehicle, and any other information available and valuable to identifying the child and suspect.

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