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Robyn Westgate and Donna Chung

This course has been developed to provide learners with a better understanding of the diverse experience of domestic violence and abuse, and the impact that this can have on the victims, their families, and the wider community.

We aim to provide learners with the knowledge and skills to work in the fields of domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence, and gendered violence against women.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Recognise what family and domestic violence (fdv) is
  • Identify the risk indicators of fdv
  • Learn about abusive patterns of behaviour, including coercive control, gaslighting, and techology as tools of abuse
  • Understand the impact of fdv on victims, particularly those in minority groups
  • Learn about fdv and the law, including intimate partner homicide
  • Develop an awareness of the prevalence and costs of fdv on survivors, families, and society.
  • After completing this course, you will:

Syllabus

Module 1: What is abuse?
Module 2: Prevalence of family and domestic violence
Module 3: Aspects and impacts of family and domestic violence
Module 4: Coercive control and Gaslighting
Read more
Module 5: Family and domestic violence in minority groups
Module 6: Technological abuse and Non-fatal strangulation
Module 7: Fatal consequences: Intimate partner homicide
Module 8: Where to from here?

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Taught by Donna Chung and Robyn Westgate, recognized experts in domestic and family violence
Develops an understanding of the impact of domestic violence on victims, families, and society
Provides knowledge and skills to work in the fields of domestic and family violence
Covers topics such as coercive control, gaslighting, and technological abuse, which are emerging areas in domestic violence research
Provides insights into domestic violence in minority groups, a topic often overlooked in training
Requires no prior knowledge or experience in domestic violence, making it accessible to both newcomers and professionals

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Understanding Domestic Violence with these activities:
Review definitions of types of of family and domestic violence
Reviewing definitions will strengthen your baseline understanding of the field and foundational concepts.
Browse courses on Family Violence
Show steps
  • Read the module on types of family and domestic violence
  • Write down or type out your own definitions of family and domestic violence
Read 'Why Does He Do That?' by Lundy Bancroft
Reading this book provides insights into the motivations and behaviors of abusers, deepening your knowledge of domestic violence dynamics.
View The Joyous Recovery on Amazon
Show steps
  • Purchase or borrow a copy of 'Why Does He Do That?'
  • Set aside time each day to read the book
  • Take notes and highlight important passages
  • Discuss the book with other students or a book club
Learn about the impact of FDV on victims from a survivor
Supplementing what you have learned with personal accounts and experiences provides depth to the course content.
Show steps
  • Contact a local domestic abuse hotline or organization
  • Ask if you can speak with a survivor, either in person or virtually
  • Prepare questions to ask the survivor about their experiences
  • After the interview, take time to reflect on what you learned
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Create a fact sheet on domestic violence for a community bulletin board
Creating a community resource will help you package the information you have acquired into a tangible form that others can interact with, expanding your scope of learning.
Browse courses on Domestic Violence
Show steps
  • Gather credible information on domestic violence
  • Organize the information into a clear and concise format
  • Design the fact sheet using a visually appealing layout
  • Print multiple copies of the fact sheet
  • Post the fact sheets on community bulletin boards

Career center

Learners who complete Understanding Domestic Violence will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Social Worker
Social workers understand the complexities of domestic violence and can provide support, counseling, and advocacy to survivors. This course provides valuable knowledge and skills for social workers, including understanding risk indicators, recognizing abusive patterns of behavior, and learning about the impact of FDV on victims. It also provides an awareness of the prevalence and costs of FDV on survivors, families, and society, which can help social workers develop effective interventions and support systems.
Domestic Violence Advocate
Domestic violence advocates provide support, resources, and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of domestic violence, including its prevalence, risk indicators, and impact on victims. It also covers specific topics such as coercive control, gaslighting, and technology as tools of abuse, which can help advocates better understand and support survivors.
Counselor
Counselors provide support, guidance, and therapy to individuals experiencing domestic violence. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for counselors working with this population, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, recognizing signs of abuse, and developing effective interventions. It also covers topics such as trauma-informed care and cultural sensitivity, which are important for counselors working with survivors from diverse backgrounds.
Victim Advocate
Victim advocates provide support, resources, and advocacy to victims of crime, including domestic violence. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of domestic violence, including its prevalence, risk indicators, and impact on victims. It also covers specific topics such as safety planning, legal options, and trauma-informed care, which are essential for victim advocates working with survivors.
Law Enforcement Officer
Law enforcement officers are often the first responders to domestic violence incidents. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for law enforcement officers responding to domestic violence calls, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, recognizing signs of abuse, and implementing appropriate interventions. It also covers specific topics such as risk assessment, safety planning, and legal procedures, which are essential for law enforcement officers working with survivors.
Legal Aid Attorney
Legal aid attorneys provide legal representation to low-income individuals, including survivors of domestic violence. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for legal aid attorneys working with survivors, such as understanding the legal system, advocating for victims' rights, and developing effective legal strategies. It also covers specific topics such as family law, criminal law, and immigration law, which are important for legal aid attorneys working with survivors.
Researcher
Researchers conduct research on domestic violence to better understand its causes, consequences, and effective interventions. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for researchers working on domestic violence issues, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, developing research questions, and conducting rigorous research studies. It also covers specific topics such as data collection, data analysis, and research ethics, which are important for researchers working on domestic violence issues.
Policy Analyst
Policy analysts develop and analyze policies that impact survivors of domestic violence. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for policy analysts working on domestic violence issues, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, identifying policy gaps, and developing effective interventions. It also covers specific topics such as data analysis, research methods, and policy advocacy, which are important for policy analysts working on domestic violence issues.
Journalist
Journalists report on domestic violence and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for journalists working on domestic violence issues, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, developing effective reporting strategies, and protecting the privacy of survivors. It also covers specific topics such as interviewing techniques, writing for different audiences, and ethical considerations, which are important for journalists working on domestic violence issues.
Educator
Educators teach students about domestic violence and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for educators working on domestic violence issues, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, developing effective teaching strategies, and creating safe and supportive learning environments. It also covers specific topics such as curriculum development, lesson planning, and student assessment, which are important for educators working on domestic violence issues.
Health Care Provider
Health care providers can play a vital role in identifying and supporting survivors of domestic violence. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for health care providers working with survivors, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, recognizing signs of abuse, and providing appropriate care. It also covers specific topics such as trauma-informed care, safety planning, and legal reporting, which are important for health care providers working with survivors.
Clergy Member
Clergy members can provide spiritual and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for clergy members working with survivors, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, recognizing signs of abuse, and providing appropriate support. It also covers specific topics such as trauma-informed care, safety planning, and legal reporting, which are important for clergy members working with survivors.
Child Welfare Worker
Child welfare workers investigate reports of child abuse and neglect, which may include cases of domestic violence. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for child welfare workers working with families experiencing domestic violence, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, recognizing signs of abuse, and providing appropriate interventions. It also covers specific topics such as safety planning, legal reporting, and working with children who have been exposed to domestic violence, which are important for child welfare workers working with families experiencing domestic violence.
Community Organizer
Community organizers work to build community support for survivors of domestic violence. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for community organizers working on domestic violence issues, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, identifying community needs, and developing effective community organizing strategies. It also covers specific topics such as coalition building, resource development, and community education, which are important for community organizers working on domestic violence issues.
Corrections Officer
Corrections officers supervise and care for inmates in jails and prisons, which may include inmates who have been convicted of domestic violence offenses. This course provides knowledge and skills that are essential for corrections officers working with inmates who have been convicted of domestic violence offenses, such as understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, recognizing signs of abuse, and providing appropriate interventions. It also covers specific topics such as safety planning, legal reporting, and working with inmates who have a history of violence, which are important for corrections officers working with inmates who have been convicted of domestic violence offenses.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Understanding Domestic Violence.
This comprehensive handbook provides a wide range of intervention strategies for working with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. It can be a useful resource for learners seeking practical guidance on how to support and respond to those affected by domestic violence.
Provides a comprehensive look at the psychology of abusive men, helping to understand their motivations and behaviors. It can serve as additional reading to deepen learners' understanding of abusive patterns and coercive control.
Provides an accessible overview of gaslighting, a common abusive pattern of behaviour covered in the course. It offers practical strategies for recognizing and responding to gaslighting and breaking free from its effects.
A foundational text in the field of domestic violence that provides a psychological framework for understanding the dynamics of battering relationships. It valuable resource for understanding the cycle of violence and the impact on victims.
This national survey provides comprehensive data on the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of domestic violence in the United States. It can serve as a valuable reference for learners seeking to understand the scope and impact of domestic violence on a national scale.
A resource guide that provides information on domestic violence, safety planning, and resources for victims. It valuable tool for victims seeking help and for professionals working with victims of domestic violence.

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