KNOWLEDGE HUB

A year after NSW criminalised coercive control, very few charges have been laid because the justice system struggles to prove long-term patterns of abuse, highlighting the need for specialised training, legal reform, and technology that helps survivors safely document evidence over time.

Domestic violence often intensifies over Christmas, as alcohol, financial stress and increased time at home amplify coercive control, leaving victims and children more isolated and at risk when support services are limited.

Technology is increasingly used as a tool of coercive control, but when designed and used safely it can also become a powerful shield that helps victims seek support, document abuse, and reclaim autonomy.