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Family and Domestic Violence

Family and Domestic Violence

At ECU, we know that anyone can experience family and domestic violence and that this will inevitably impact on our own staff and students. We know that family and domestic violence can impact every aspect of a person's life, including their work and study, and we are here to help. If, and when, it is safe to do so, we encourage all ECU community members to reach out to get support.

An abusive partner or family member can impact on a student’s ability to complete their education or training. They may use a variety of means to control  and/or coerce the student and incite fear. This behaviour significantly impacts on a student’s mental health, concentration and overall potential to succeed. An abusive partner or family member can do this by:

  • Not allowing the student to access money to pay for their studies or other essentials items
  • Controlling or monitoring the student’s mobility including not enabling them to attend classes/group assessments
  • Deleting or sabotaging assignments
  • Gaslighting or forcibly distracting or stressing the student around the time of important assessments
  • Socially isolating the student from allowing them to engage in university activities including group assessments or networking events
  • Isolating students from their families and communities
  • Damaging and destroying their personal property (for example, smashing or stealing their laptops, other study equipment and/or their modes of transport)
  • Secretly or overtly monitoring their emails, text messages, phone calls and other private password protected technology

Who do I contact in an emergency?

  • WA Police: phone 000 in an emergency or life-threatening situation - request police attendance and/or ambulance if needed.
  • ECU Security: (08) 6304 3333 (can be contacted 24 hours a day)
  • ECU Out of Hours Crisis Line: phone 1300 583 032 or text 0488 884 232 (available 5pm to 9am on weekdays, and 24 hours on weekends).
  • Download the Nowforce app: provides a direct lifeline to our campus security personnel and is designed to help minimise response times to emergencies and routine security and safety situations. The app can be used anywhere, not just on campus.

Where can I get support?

ECU encourages all students, staff and community members to seek support when they need it and it is safe to do so. Family and domestic violence is not something you have to cope with on your own.

You can decide if, when, and where, you seek help.

What if I experience family and domestic violence?

If you are experiencing family and domestic violence, there are steps you can take to stay safe. Every circumstance if different, but there are a few simple and safe strategies you can use to reduce the impacts.

There is help available if you do choose to leave an abusive relationship.

How can I support someone else?

If someone you know has experienced family and domestic violence, they may express a range of emotional or physical reactions. There is no right or wrong way to react but we can provide you with some useful strategies.

We would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Noongar people, the traditional custodians of the land upon which ECU's campuses stand and programs operate.

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