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The campaign features a comprehensive website with tips on how to recognise coercive control and what to do about it. There are downloadable posters, TV ads, and other useful resources.
The website explains that coercive control is when someone intentionally tries to control you or make you behave in a certain way by doing or saying things that makes you feel afraid, ashamed, anxious, unsure or upset.
It is a pattern of behaviour that can involve many different forms of abuse.
This can include but is not limited to:
making it hard for you to see your friends and family
always needing to know where you are and what you are doing
telling you what you can and can’t wear, or where you can and can’t go
not letting you have control over your own money, or where you work
checking your phone, your computer and your social media
not letting you practice your faith or spirituality in ways that you want to
any actions or behaviours that make you feel like you’re being watched, or like you can’t act like yourself because you’ll be punished
any actions or behaviours that make you feel forced into doing something you don’t want to do, including things sexual or private.
If you do not feel safe and comfortable in your relationship, if you feel that you are ‘going crazy’ or feel confused and afraid, then it is abuse — not love.
The campaign comes as the SA government looks towards introducing laws into parliament that would make coercive control a crime.
The wider community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft legislation in the coming months before a Bill is introduced in the second half of the year.