“He seemed so nice and sweet at the start.”
This is how 22-year-old Harley described her ex-boyfriend as he treated her when they started dating a couple of years ago.
Over the course of their relationship, Harley was abused verbally, psychologically, sexually and physically.
At Brisbane Youth Service, Harley joined a support group for young women who had been affected by domestic and family violence.
“I now feel more comfortable setting boundaries in relationships and knowing my rights to do so,” she said.
This March, the service released data collected over seven years showing that 68 per cent of their clients had experienced family violence, and 40 per cent had experienced intimate partner violence.
The report confirmed young people facing homelessness experienced that type of violence at higher rates than the general population, and that domestic and family violence was a leading cause of housing insecurity.
The service has called on state and federal governments to provide funding for targeted interventions.
“We need to focus not only on immediate safety and security, but also prevention, early intervention, and recovery,” BYS chief executive Pam Barker said.
“We’re well-placed to deliver interventions to break the cycle, but we need more funding to continue to deliver our critical services – and to expand them.”
Young Women, Families and Safe Relationships Senior Manager Lou Baker (middle) facilitates programs to support young people who have experienced domestic and family violence, and those currently using violence.