Geraldine’s mum Anne didn’t like Ted* from the beginning. But Anne found it hard to put her finger on exactly what bothered her about him. That’s because Ted’s behaviour was a complex web of expectation, pressure and manipulation, more commonly referred to as coercive control.

Coercive control is a pattern of conduct employed by abusers. This is violence that happens slowly. It doesn’t come out of nothing. It is a gradual building of cruel, threatening and intimidating behaviours. Together these subtle acts combine to strip away the victim’s sense of self worth, their loving relationships and their personal and financial freedoms.

Some Australian state governments are exploring ways to make coercive control a crime. But it’s tricky. How do you define violence that is so hard to prove? The impact of physical violence is so much easier to measure.

In this episode of There’s No Place Like Home we introduce you to Geraldine and unpack the debate on whether coercive control should be a crime.  A question on which key groups in the women’s safety sector are divided. You’ll hear experts from both sides - with a particular focus on how this issue affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

With the help of experts, advocates, practitioners - and of course Geraldine herself - we’ll answer the question: Would criminalising coercive control even make a difference?

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There’s No Place Like Home is a podcast by Future Women, made in collaboration with CommBank which is supporting long-term financial independence for victim-survivors through CommBank Next Chapter.

Content note: This podcast includes descriptions of domestic and family violence and may be upsetting to some listeners. If you have experienced or are at risk of domestic and family violence and/or sexual assault, you can call the national counselling service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, or if you are not feeling safe, always call the police on 000.

*Not his real name.

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