Category Archives: Violence

Even in the Best of Homes published

Even in the Best of Homes: Violence in the Family by Jocelynne Scutt, was a ground-breaking and influential book contributing to new and heightened awareness of the problem of violence in the family. “The family has long been seen as … Continue reading

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NSW women allowed to prosecute husbands for violence

NSW introduced the Crimes (Domestic Violence) Amendment Act 1982 and the De Facto Relationships Act 1982, both specifically to address the position of women experiencing violence in the family and enabling them to prosecute their husbands.

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Rape in marriage becomes illegal in South Australia

In 1976, for the first time in the English-speaking world, rape in marriage became a criminal offence.  Changes were made to the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 of South Australia that made rape within marriage an offence and extended the … Continue reading

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Eleven women’s refuges across the country open

The Whitlam government funded 11 women’s refuges and shelters across the country. Many are known by women’s names, to signify a safe place for women, for example Molly’s House, Beryl’s Women’s Refuge, Joan’s Place, Bonney’s Women’s Refuge. Initially women’s refuges … Continue reading

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Australia’s first women’s refuge established

Sydney feminists squatted in an unused house and set up Australia’s first women’s refuge ‘Elsie’.

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First rape crisis centre established

Sydney Rape Crisis Centre was established as a result of a two-day meeting of women in Redfern Town Hall in 1971. This meeting was held at the height of the women’s movement in Australia. A Collective was formed which set … Continue reading

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The Drunkards Wife

In 1889, Louisa Lawson wrote “Will it be believed, a hundred years hence, that such a state of things existed?”. Louisa Lawson wasn’t talking about women getting the vote. She was talking about violence against women.

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