Sarah, a Victorian woman who endured years of physical, emotional, and financial abuse by her ex-partner, has spoken out about the potential benefits of a domestic violence disclosure scheme. She only discovered she was not her partner's first victim after fleeing the relationship and engaging with support services like Orange Door.

Sarah, whose real name is withheld to protect her identity, explained that her abusive relationship did not start with violence but escalated over time. Despite her background as a trained family violence worker and awareness of warning signs, she found herself trapped in a toxic relationship.

"Quite often these perpetrators come across so lovely and so loving … but if I had known that, even at the start of the relationship, I wouldn't have packed up my life and moved in at the start," she said.

She advocates for a system where individuals can inquire with authorities about a partner's history of intimate partner violence before making significant commitments such as moving in together or marriage. "If there was a way you could call up the police or someone and just say, 'Hey I'm planning on moving in with my partner, or getting married or engaged … do they have a history of intimate partner violence?' it would just save so many victims," Sarah said.

Her ex-partner was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order after pleading guilty to recklessly causing injury, breaching a family violence safety notice, and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

An advocate involved in the discussion acknowledged the sensitivity of releasing information about someone's past but emphasized prioritizing the safety of those at risk. "We acknowledge that this is releasing of information regarding someone else's past, but if we put the person who's at the risk of harm or abuse at the centre of our decision-making, we make a balanced decision, an informed decision," he said.

Sarah's experience highlights the challenges victims face and the need for improved measures to prevent domestic violence by informing potential victims about their partner's history.

Sources

ABC Australia News