By South Australia Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Domestic abuse In some parts of this report the term ‘domestic abuse’ is used instead of domestic, family and sexual violence. This reflects the terminology used in the Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009 (SA), in certain other legislative provisions and by South Australia Police in some circumstances. LGBTQIA+ This acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, queer, intersex and asexual communities. The + signifies those who do not necessarily identify with any of the listed labels, but who do not conform to traditional heteronormative standards. Where the report departs from the use of this acronym, it is to reflect a specific service, organisation or group of people. Lived experience and Victim-survivor The use of the term ‘person with lived experience’ carries an acknowledgment that, for many people with lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence, the experience is both lived and living – it is ongoing. The Commission’s Terms of Reference, Issues Paper and The Journey So Far use the term ‘victim-survivor’. This term acknowledges the ongoing effects and harm caused by violence, as well as honouring the strength and resilience of people who have experienced violence The Commission has also used the term ‘person experiencing violence’ and ‘person with lived experience of violence’ throughout its inquiry. This report uses all of these terms in acknowledgement of the diversity of preferences across individuals and the sector. It is important to remember that these terms include children and young people, who experience domestic, family and sexual violence and are victim-survivors in their own right. The Commission’s Terms of Reference explicitly refer to this, along with the need to recognise that the overwhelming majority of victim-survivors are women and children. Person using violence This report uses the term ‘person who uses violence’ when referring to an individual who uses domestic, family or sexual violence to cause harm to another. This report occasionally uses different terminology in particular contexts; for example, ‘perpetrator’ is used in the context of particular programs or services that use that term, ‘offender’ is used in the context of South Australia Police operations and policies, and ‘accused’, ‘defendant’ or ‘respondent’ is used in the context of the justice system. As outlined in the Commission’s Terms of Reference, it is recognised that the overwhelming majority of people who use violence are men.
Adelaide, South Australia Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, 2025. 664p.
