Whatever support is offered, whether that’s internally or externally, it is unlikely everything will be sorted after just one conversation.
Dealing with these situations can be ongoing for some time, as is the nature of family violence and economic harm.
Once things are put in motion there needs to be a commitment to ongoing support.
Even when external support is accessed, it may take time for the employee to work through their experience and things to be managed.
Your employee may need regular check-ins and discussions over days, weeks or even months.
It is also possible things could get worse before they improve, as pressure from the person using violence may increase.
Providing Support
Providing Support
Whatever support is offered, whether that’s internally or externally, it is unlikely everything will be sorted after just one conversation.
Dealing with these situations can be ongoing for some time, as is the nature of family violence and economic harm.
Once things are put in motion there needs to be a commitment to ongoing support.
Even when external support is accessed, it may take time for the employee to work through their experience and things to be managed.
Your employee may need regular check-ins and discussions over days, weeks or even months.
It is also possible things could get worse before they improve, as pressure from the person using violence may increase.
Do
- Prioritise safety over work efficency
- Allocate some private time and space to listen
- Discuss and provide confidentiality
- Be sensitive
- Withhold judgement
- Invest time and resources
- Trust what is being said
Don't
- Seek proof of abuse
- Contact the person causing harm
- Compel the victim to accept support
- Try to be a social worker or fix it yourself
- Minimise the experience
- Include staff who don’t need to be involved
- Leave the conversation without a plan
Safety
Your employee’s, your own and your team’s safety must be kept in mind at all times.
Remember that you’re probably not a trained social worker – so avoid overstepping. Intervening in what might seem the most helpful way can cause people to shut down, withdraw, or escalate very quickly.
It is important to know whether the relationship is breaking up – leaving a relationship is considered to be the most dangerous time where physical harm is a real possibility, even if it has not occurred previously in the relationship.
Seeking external support
External support comes in many forms depending on the extent of the problem, type of help wanted and cultural considerations.
It’s important that the person experiencing the harm has choices and is supported to make the decisions that work best for them.
It’s easy to assume what the most appropriate support might be, however, it’s important that this is done together with the employee.
Important questions to ask your employee when seeking support:
- Are there family members, partners, ex-partners, friends, or acquaintances who work in the service you are considering accessing?
- If so, are they supportive, would they have access to your information?
- Do you want them to know or be involved?
External support available
Family violence agencies
Specialist family violence agencies can:
Finance
Our Financial Wellbeing Coaches are trained to support you with unmanageable debt and the financial side of your relationship. They can:
Employment law
This can include:
Holistic services
Culturally-specific support services that have an understanding of family harm can provide:
Banks
Most of the major banks now have dedicated teams who respond to:
Related resources
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