A new White Ribbon survey has revealed four-out-of-10 young men do not consider "hitting, punching or restraining" another person to be "a type of domestic violence".
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The disturbing data comes as a south-west police officer says most domestic violence perpetrators know what they are doing is wrong, but blame their circumstances for their offending.
The national survey of 1074 men aged 18 to 34 found a similar proportion did not classify non-consensual sexual activity, degrading and punishing a person or isolating them from their friends as domestic violence.
The survey revealed younger women were less likely than older women to classify those behaviours as domestic violence.
Overall, surveyors aged 18 to 34 were less likely to consider the range of behaviours listed as domestic violence then older responders.
Warrnambool family violence unit Sergeant Jason Dance said perpetrators in the south-west generally knew their physical actions were wrong, but did not hold themselves accountable.
"Certainly the overwhelming majority of perpetrators we see would know they've done the wrong thing," he said.
My concern however is around the level of victim-blaming and blaming their circumstances for their actions rather than hold themselves accountable.
- Jason Dance
Sergeant Dance said he had already started to see the difference education had made within family violence offences.
"We've certainly seen young people reporting family violence more and I think that's around the education they have on what is acceptable and what is not," he said.
"Coercive control, financial, social and emotional abuse are the areas where perpetrators have less accountability and understanding that what they've done is wrong and that's a key area of concern.
"No matter what a perpetrator's circumstance is, there is never an excuse for violence and I think a main issue is for perpetrators to take accountability for their own behaviour."
Women's Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West chief executive Emma Mahony said preventative measures were integral to educating people about family violence.
"Violence is complex and the solution is not simple," she said. "Violence happens at a personal level, what happens in a relationship is built on the norms and cultures surrounding it.
"What's sitting behind violence is inequality; men needing to be in control and that turns into controlling (behaviour)."
Ms Mahony said more funding was needed to implement preventative measures.
"There are layers to what can be done; education is part of it but we need funding for long-term action campaigns and prevention education in the curriculum of every school," she said.
"We need to work to prevent family violence before it occurs and that is a cultural change in how men sexualise, objectify and speak about women.
The only way to solve it is to have the whole community involved.
- Emma Mahony
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
- Emma House is a Warrnambool-based not-for-profit service and can be contacted through 1800 EMMADV (1800 366238) or visit emmahouse.org.au/
- Safe Steps for women after hours service is available through 188 015 188.
- Brophy Family and Youth Services can be contacted on 1300 BROPHY or 03 5561 8888.
- Women's Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West prevention information can be found at womenshealthbsw.org.au
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